Opinion: Hamilton County employers taking steps to make pay equity a reality
The U.S. inflation rate reached a 40-year high of 8.5% in March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. All of us are feeling the impact of higher costs of food, gas and everyday living essentials, but for groups who consistently earn lower wages, the current economic environment is particularly bleak.
The Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls made strides toward bridging the gender and race-based wage divide by recruiting local employers to sign the Pay Equity Commitment. The commission has taken formative steps to making pay equity a reality in Hamilton County – making progress towards assuring everyone is able to provide for themselves and their families, despite trying economic conditions.
Each year, the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls uses research and local data to build upon previous recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in the areas of pay equity, social mobility, safety and health and self-identity.
Here is a summary of each committee's work and recommendations.
Pay equity
We just hosted our first-ever round of Pay Equity Commitment signings, with over 40 local employers signing the pledge to close the gender and race-based wage gap. The voluntary Pay Equity Commitment asks employers to go beyond equal pay for equal work, and address disparities in access to promotions, bonuses, flexibility and leadership roles. We will continue to invite other local employers to sign our Pay Equity Commitment in our ongoing efforts to close the gender and race-based wage gap.
Social mobility
Although there are supportive services for minor-aged pregnant girls in Hamilton County, once these girls become mothers, they face heartbreaking challenges such as a lack of child care, legal issues, and domestic violence. Critically, there are too few supportive housing options for teen parents with their children in Greater Cincinnati and surrounding areas. We recommend promoting resource awareness for teen parents and encouraging the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority to prioritize housing applications for teen mothers to address the critical need for housing.
Safety
Violence affects girls from a young age, with 57% of teens reporting having friends who experience dating violence, and 25.8% of all females reporting first experiencing partner violence before the age of 18. Gender-based violence prevention programming raises awareness and helps young girls identify unhealthy behaviors, abuse, and relational violence amongst peers. We are recommending support for outreach to all public middle and high schools in Hamilton County about the importance of implementing the House Bill 19 (Tina Croucher Act) and providing gender-based violence prevention programming for middle and high school students.
Health and self-identity
Menstrual health stigmas, misinformation, and lack of education continue to pose a problematic obstacle in achieving menstrual equity for all menstruating persons, especially in already marginalized and vulnerable populations. We’re advocating for broader access to free period products. Hamilton County has led this effort by purchasing free period products dispensers for all downtown public county buildings, with their installation expected later this summer.
Also, the commission recommends that American Rescue Plan Act funds reach those hit hardest in our community, those suffering the most from mental health disparities, and those at high-risk for long-term impacts of stress and isolation.
We are proud of the recommendations set forward this year. We continue to be excited for the opportunity to contribute to our community and look forward to expanding our network of community partners, companies, schools, and governments to enact sustainable change.
Applications for the 2022-2023 Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls will be online and available later this month. To apply or learn more, please visit us at https://hamiltoncountyohio.gov/HCCWG.
Mary Maune is program coordinator of Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Hamilton County employers taking steps to make pay equity a reality
