Currently, moms working full-time, year-round jobs make 71 cents on the dollar compared to dads who are working full-time, year-round jobs. When looking at all working moms as compared to all working dads, the gap widens to just 63 cents on the dollar.
Moms’ Equal Pay Day on August 7, 2024, brings awareness to this pay gap that impacts mothers in the workplace (and their families) and reminds us of the many factors that contribute to this wage gap.
Workplaces are largely designed around workers who don’t have primary caregiver responsibilities, which traditionally fall on the shoulders of mothers — even though moms are absolutely essential to so many employers. Plus, persistently low wages paired with a lack of paid leave in many of the jobs predominantly held by women continue to limit their pay and opportunities.
Because of gender discrimination and cultural stereotypes, moms who take parental leave or who need to leave at a certain time to pick up their kids are seen as less reliable or less committed. Plus, more moms than dads have turned down promotions because of childcare responsibilities. Sometimes these discrepancies are referred to collectively as the “motherhood penalty.”
But the truth is, having parenting experience and household management experience can actually enhance your workplace skills! One survey found that moms add value by building a more positive and inclusive workplace, and displaying higher productivity and greater loyalty to the company.
Getting paid what you’re worth
Besides advocating for fair pay and better workplace policies for all employees at the company level, or asking your elected officials for more family-friendly workplace policies at the city, state, or national level — there’s also the personal matter of your own paycheck. If you’re starting to realize that your value in the workplace doesn’t match up with your compensation, it could be time to speak up.
Due to gender discrimination and stereotypes, men who ask for raises are actually granted them at a higher rate than women who ask for raises. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask to get paid what you’re worth!
When you’re ready to ask for a raise, here are the steps to take:
- Make a list of the positive contributions you bring to your workplace. You can keep track over a few weeks to really boost your confidence and help make your case.
- Research an appropriate salary increase. You can look into wages posted in job listings at similar companies, and/or gather intel from friends who work in related industries.
- Practice what you’re going to say, and plan when you’re going to say it. You can use our sample language below as a starting point!
Start on a positive note: “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me! I love being a part of the team and I hope to keep contributing to our work here for a long time to come.”
Be direct: “I’ll be straightforward with you — I’d like to discuss a raise.”
Talk about your top contributions: “I’ve been working here for almost three years, and in that time I’ve been extremely committed to our mission. I’ve learned to work much more efficiently, while also building really strong relationships with our customers. They trust me! I’ve also taken on new responsibilities like training our interns, and planning our team building activities.”
Discuss specific outcomes and follow-up: “So I hope you’ll consider giving me a 10 percent raise at the end of this quarter. Thanks for hearing me out, and I’d love to give you some time to think about it. Can we put a time on the calendar to talk it over next week? And please let me know if you have any questions for me in the meantime.”