Kamala Harris would toughen penalties on employers who underpay women

[riversedge]

she is talking about this right now on The Beat-msnbc

Women shouldn't bear the burden to prove they're not being paid fairly. It's time for large corporations to step up and prove they're paying people equally for equal work.

Link to tweet

Kamala Harris would toughen penalties on employers who underpay women

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-kamala-harris-women-equal-pay-california-20190520-story.html

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-kamala-harris-women-equal-pay-california-20190520-story.html
By Michael Finnegan
May 20, 2019 | 3:00 AM

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) campaigned Sunday at Los Angeles Southwest College. The presidential candidate has a new proposal that would require companies to obtain a federal certification showing they are not underpaying women or face a fine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris released a plan Monday to overhaul U.S. discrimination laws to ensure women and men are paid equally for the same work.

Companies would be required to obtain a federal certification showing they are not underpaying women, under Harris’ proposal. Those that fail to do so could be fined billions of dollars.

Employers would have to show that any gap in pay between women and men is based on merit, performance or seniority. Companies that discriminate against women would be fined at 1% of their average daily profits for every 1% gap that exists between the pay of male and female employees doing the same job.

The junior senator from California provided the broad outlines of the proposal Sunday at a rally of roughly 1,000 supporters at Southwest College in South L.A. She told them that women who work full time are paid on average 80 cents for every dollar paid to men; for black women, 61 cents; and for Latinas, 53 cents.
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[Mc Mike]

1. She'd make a great President. Rec, thanks, nt.

[NurseJackie]

2. I'm with her on that!

[riversedge]

3. The proposal would also require equal-pay certification for federal contractors. Those who fail to g

.......Her plan would also bar employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. Forced arbitration would be banned in pay discrimination disputes.

Companies would have to report statistics on the percentage of women in leadership positions, and the percentage who are among the top earners.

Harris estimates the plan will generate $180 billion in fines over the first decade, with the revenue steadily dropping as corporate culture shifts toward equality.

The proposal would also require equal-pay certification for federal contractors. Those who fail to get certification would be blocked from competing for federal contracts worth more than $500,000.

[tulipsandroses]

4. I'm loving it! I'm watching her on Ari now- I was shocked to find I was paid less than a male with

NO experience!!!!

It felt like a kick in the gut! I had worked almost 7 yrs for this company. Yet, they brought in a new grad and paid him more. I wasn't sure what was happening. Sex? Race? He's white, I'm black. WTH? And I was expected to train him. Talk about insult to injury.

They gave me an increase when I found out and went to management. I think they knew they had messed up royally so there was no fight about giving me a raise. However, the feeling of being kicked in the gut is still there.

Fast forward, its happened again - not to myself, others in the organization recently found out what a male counterpart is making and are just floored.

These companies should pay for their discrimination. I'm all for fining them.

[BigmanPigman]

5. Yes, it seems like you busted them...

[DesertRat]

6. I strongly support this new proposal

[jalan48]

7. I love her attitude. I hope we see more following her lead.