The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay ACT (S.181)
Finally The Possibility for Workplace Equality On Thursday January 29 President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Bill for equal pay for equal work here in the US.
The bill just doesn't cover gender equality it also covers all forms of discrimination including racial and sexual preference discrimination. It greatly extends the statute of limitations for compensation discrimination claims of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII.
For me this was a long time coming! I first started to work on a seperate Equal Pay for Equal Work Act when I was in my twenties. For those of you with math skills that's about 40 years ago!!!
That means that for those 40 years human beings in the US were not fully protected and in addition in 2007 the US Supreme Court ruling against Lilly Ledbetter put us at even more of a disadvantage. This is because the Supreme Court in the US ruled that unless we could file suit or complaint with evidence within 180 days we had no recourse under the law. Justice Ginsburg desented and in her opinion challenged the US legislature to overturn the ruling by changing the law. They did just that!
Most of us know that we're not even sure what the job is in 180 days! Let alone if we are being discriminated against. Some of us don't find out we've been discriminated against until we're retired or we have left the company.
So finally folks in the US have some additional protection under the new law.
Of course now, as with all new law everywhere, the system will further define the parameters as complaints and suits are filed.
I'm sure by now some of our readers in other countries are feeling quite smug because they have had these safeguards in place longer then the US has.
However for all of you there are some important learnings:
1.
Don't Mess with a Woman over 50!!! This is no joke! We don't take well to being discriminated against and most of us by 50 don't have much to lose if we decide to fight.
We are also less likely to accept excuses for why it has to be the way it is and we are super tenacious. That is we will hold your feet to the fire past the Supreme Court of any country and we will demand you do what is right.
2.
Companies Do Your Due DilligenceThis is where I warn all companies in the US, whether US Based or doing business here but based elsewhere, get your act together!
Do an audit ahead of time and figure out if you are vulnerable and if so change! Don't wait for a lawsuit ,do it because you want to be in compliance. The estimate is Lilly was owed $200,000+ USD more then Goodyear had paid her over 19 years of employment.
Now how much do you think Goodyear paid in legal fees? Wouldn't it have been easier for the company she worked for for 19 years to fork over an extra $200,000 as a parting gift when she retired then to spend 5-10 years paying a team of lawyers? DUH!
3.
Young Ladies Learn From Your ForemothersI see young women everywhere in the world trusting that their degree and their authority figures will do right by them and that they will never be in Lilly Ledbetter's position. To you I say
"Horse pucky"!!!! ( A less dirty way of saying Bull Shit!)Wake up and smell the coffee:
YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOU!!!If you can start being that at 20 something you'll be way ahead of us at 50 something!
4.
Form Women's Support Groups They Do HelpThey will give you more information then you ever wanted to know and sometimes they will provide moral support through your life.
I bet Lilly had a support group of females around her and I'll bet some of them are in high places!!
That's another reason we are encouraging graduates of Women Moving Forward® to get together for a celebration this year so you can feel the support of other women at least once in 2009! It does wonders!
5.
When Something Bad Happens Stop HidingSo many women are currently taking the brunt of the bad worldwide economy. We have spoken to many across the world who have either been pushed out of their companies or who have been asked to take demotions or packages. Some have even been threatened with firing and more go to work everyday to be emotionally abused by management who are scared too and have no clue as to what to do.
If this happens to you get on the phone and talk to some other women you trust. Get the news out and let those who would support you do so.
Sometimes this is enough to have you get up and get things done!
And do speak to an Attorney. Sometimes it is worth the cost of an hour session for you to find out what recourse you have legally. You do this even if it only tells you what you can't do! Knowing is better then not knowing.
I
f you have something to contribute to this conversation let's hear it! E-mail it to me and we'll keep this conversation going!Let's make sure the fight Lilly fought continues to bring good things to more women all over the world!
Susan Van Vleet, President
Susan Van Vleet Consultants, Inc.
303.660.5206
