MILWAUKEE (March 8, 2024) — Nearly 300 Milwaukee-area business and community leaders filled the Wilson Theatre at the Marcus Performing Arts Center today to mobilize for women’s equality in the workplace and call for equal pay.
The Women’s Leadership Collaborative (WLC) hosted Southeastern Wisconsin’s celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
“Our goal for organizing this gathering was to align, empower and celebrate women across the Milwaukee region, using International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month to advocate for women in the workplace and in society,” said Lauren Feaster of Professional Dimensions, one of the WLC partnering organizations.
Emilie Aries, a Denver-based author, speaker, CEO & Founder of leadership development and career services company, Bossed Up, called for passage of state and federal pay transparency laws like those already in effect in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island and Washington. These laws mandate that job descriptions should include hourly or salary pay ranges or job classifications so that employees and job seekers know what they should be making.
Aries noted that the Wisconsin Legislature has a pay transparency bill (AB 905) tied up in the Assembly’s labor and employment committee.
“The message is clear. Right now, the Legislature is saying pay transparency and pay equality for women and people of color is not a priority. We can change that,” Aries said to attendees.
“The good news is that smart companies are already taking initiative and becoming champions for pay equality and pay transparency because they know it actually reduces wage growth over time – that’s a good thing for a company that is watching the bottom line,” she added. “They know it makes recruitment costs stay low and helps the recruitment process become more efficient, and it helps with retention and in attracting talent.”
Aries, who works with Fortune 500 companies to support leadership development, diversity and equity, and gender inclusion initiatives, said the wage gap between what men and women make has not changed much in the past 20 years.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor released statistics that showed nationally that women earn an average of 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. But in Wisconsin, women made only 80.4 cents compared to every dollar made by men.
Following Aires’ keynote address, attendees participated in interactive sessions designed to transform keynote insights into actionable initiatives within our local communities. These sessions were centered on:
● Negotiation and practical approaches for women to advocate for themselves, led by Lyn Hildenbrand of the Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc. and E-cubed;
● Advocacy to champion equal pay, led by Joyce Taylor of HR Professionals; and
● Women’s role in driving legislative change within our state, led by Peggy Creer of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.
“This year’s program was a ‘must-attend’ event for anyone who is committed to equity,” said Feaster. “The unfair difference in pay between men and women remains. This disparity is also exacerbated if you are a woman of color. By coming together, pooling our resources and talents, and learning applicable tactics and strategies, we can advance pay equity in Milwaukee once and for all.”
