How to Handle Pay Gap & Inequality in the Workplace

Unfortunately, pay inequality and gender discrimination are still prevalent in today’s workforce. But women from all walks of life are standing together and demanding more.

As part of our Women’s History Month series, we want to shine a light on the gender wage gap and discuss ways to address workplace inequality throughout your career.

If you’ve recently learned that your male colleague is earning more than you, here’s how you can address the problem in a positive, but assertive way.

Related: How to Negotiate for the Pay You Deserve

What to do about the wage gap

If you learn that your male counterpart is paid more for the same work, it can be infuriating and discouraging. While you may be dealing with a mixed bag of emotions, the most important step is to resist freaking out.

Salary decisions are almost always subjective, so it’s challenging to prove why someone gets paid more — especially when gender may play a role.

Do your best to remove emotion from the equation. Strictly looking at the situation from a logical standpoint, start by comparing positions:

• Do you have the same responsibilities?

• Do you produce the same or better results?

• Do you have the same knowledge and experience?

• Have you worked at the company for the same amount of time?

• Is your benefits package the same?

These questions can be difficult to answer without having a direct conversation with your male co-worker. Don’t make your colleagues feel backed against a wall, but if you’re going to ask co-workers these questions, it’s best to keep them broad and open-ended. 

You can also run a detailed self-assessment based on your observations over time. Examining these areas can help you immediately determine whether a difference in pay makes sense.

Maybe he has a background that lends a few more years of experience to his resume and his salary reflected that. He may have taken on additional roles over time that merited additional pay.

Or — you may simply find that he’s paid more just because he’s a man. Unfortunately, this does happen. If you find yourself in this position, advocate for yourself. 

Steps to take to address gender inequality

There are many factors that go into determining someone’s salary. Areas like education, experience, performance, skills and seniority can all play a role in calculating your pay. But there may be underlying issues that go unspoken and ignored.

Here are some steps you can take to address inequality in the workplace.

1. Do your research. Know what others are getting paid in the market similar to your position and save examples that can be used during discussions. If you know men at your company are getting paid more for the same work and results, it’s best not to name those colleagues. The idea is to keep the focus on the relationship between you and the company.

2. Bring it to your employer’s attention. With turnover rates and a lack of transparency with salaries, there’s a good chance your manager may not even be aware of the disparity. Schedule a time to sit down with your boss to speak about your findings. Be calm and assertive, and ask for what you deserve.

3. Don’t play the blame game. Instead of pointing fingers, steer the conversation so that you emphasize your value. It may feel good to go on a rant about the injustice of gender inequality, but it’s not going to get you anywhere in terms of a higher salary and more job opportunities. Stick to the facts and explicitly show your worth.

4. If needed, escalate the situation. If your boss isn’t budging or providing a clear reason for why you’re paid less, you may need to speak directly with your human resources (HR) department. HR staff are often more sensitive to these types of conversations since they have specialized training and access to employee files from all over the company.

5. Be willing to leave. Frankly, you don’t owe your employer anything. If blatant gender inequality is taking place, and no one’s willing to address it, it may be time to pack your bags. Many employers pride themselves in creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that celebrates women’s achievements. A new opportunity could mean a higher salary and a healthier work environment overall.

These steps can also be used as you progress in your career and start to explore promotion opportunities or negotiate raises. Keep in mind that you’ll always be your best advocate. If you don’t speak up, things will never change, making it harder to meet your career goals.

Standing up for what you deserve can be difficult, but it can also be liberating. As women, it’s important to stand up for each other and raise the bar of what’s considered acceptable in today’s workplace.
Have you recently landed a higher-paying job or earned a salary bump? Keep reading: 5 Top Money Moves to Make When You Get a Raise.

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