Commission for Women to Host Free Salary Negotiation Workshops to Help Close Gender Pay Gap in Pennsylvania

Statement

As part of Governor Tom Wolf's commitment to closing the gender pay gap, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women today announced it will be hosting a series of salary negotiation workshops for women across the commonwealth. The initiative is made possible through a partnership with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and its Work Smart program. The workshops will be offered at no cost to participants.

"It is unacceptable that women in Pennsylvania are still making just 80 cents on the dollar compared to what a man makes, and there are far too many employers who refuse to even acknowledge the gender pay gap, much less work to eliminate it," Governor Wolf said. "Women deserve equal pay for equal work, and I commend the Commission for Women for providing this tangible service to professional women throughout the commonwealth as we work in Harrisburg to find sustainable solutions."

"With this exciting new salary negotiation program, we are helping to make sure that women are paid what they are worth, because when there is gender pay equity, we all benefit," said Randi Teplitz, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. "These workshops will give women the essential tools they need to empower themselves in the workplace, especially as they advocate for promotions, pay raises, and better benefits."

In Pennsylvania, women working full-time are paid just 80 cents for every dollar paid to a white male, and the gap is even wider for women of color. Since 2018, the Commission for Women has been working to advocate for legislative and policy changes to equal pay laws and business practices on a statewide level. Specifically, the Commission joined First Lady Frances Wolf to host a series of roundtable discussions on equal pay following Governor Wolf's 2018 equal pay executive order for state employees.

"We applaud the Pennsylvania Commission for Women for being so proactive in ensuring that women can succeed and in helping to narrow the gender wage gap," said Kim Churches, the chief executive officer of AAUW. "Achieving pay equity benefits everyone: women, their families and communities, business--our economy as a whole. While it will take a multi-pronged effort to permanently close the gap, with these workshops, women can begin to chip away at their own personal pay gaps and earn what they are worth."'

The workshops will first be available in the following locations:

-Tuesday, September 24 -- Widener Law Commonwealth (Harrisburg)
-Thursday, October 3 -- York College (York)
-Wednesday, October 16 -- King's College (Wilkes Barre)
-Monday, October 28 -- Harrisburg University (Harrisburg)
-Wednesday, November 6 -- YWCA York (York)
-Tuesday, November 19 -- University of Scranton (Scranton)
-Monday, December 2 -- Brunner (Pittsburgh)
-Monday, January 13 -- PECO (Philadelphia)

Though the workshops are free to the public, space is limited and pre-registration is required. Find more information or register for a workshop here.

These salary negotiation trainings are part of a multipronged approach, which also includes advocacy and in-depth research. AAUW programs aim to close the leadership gap that exists in every industry. Until women receive equal pay for equal work and equal access to opportunities, true equality will remain elusive. To date, the Work Smart programs have trained more than 100,000 women, and AAUW has set a bold goal of training 10 million women nationwide by 2022.

The Pennsylvania Commission for Women, which was created by Executive Order and consists of volunteer members, is responsible for advising the governor on policies and legislation that impact women; supporting economic and civic opportunities for women; encouraging mentoring programs for girls and young women; identifying programs and opportunities for the benefit and advancement of women; and serving as a resource center for Pennsylvania women and girls. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, visit the Commission's website or follow the Commission on Facebook or on Instagram: @pawomen.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more at www.aauw.org.

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