Today, April 2, is Equal Pay Day in 2019, a day that symbolizes the size of the gender pay gap. The day exists to showcase how far the average woman must work into the next year to earn what the average man earned by Dec. 31 of the previous year.
To mark Equal Pay Day in 2018, Women in PR North America shared several facts about the gender pay gap in the public relations industry.
We have written articles and hosted events about navigating a woman’s career in public relations, earning more money, getting a raise, knowing your worth. But, it’s not enough.
We are seeing progress from both women and men becoming more transparent about their salaries and companies are limiting room for negotiation by simply paying the market rate.
However, it does nothing to ensure that women are represented at different job levels and are moving into leadership positions where the real decisions are made.
Until this happens, we won’t be celebrating equal pay day, we will continue to get ourselves organized because there is still work to be done. We will continue to put programs in place to support women in PR and provide our community with the tools to overcome the gender pay gap in our industry.
In 2019, we are emphasizing that equal pay day is about getting paid what you’re worth and reminding women in PR to take the next step to ensure they are getting paid equally. We need more women in leadership positions, and we need more women in PR to believe in their own success.
One noticeable finding in our global Women in PR research study was the confidence gap. Twice as many women (26%) say they are ‘not confident’ asking for a promotion or pay rise, compared to 13% of men.
On Equal Pay Day 2019, we want to remind women in PR to charge what you’re worth because if you undercut your competition, that will bring in potential clients who aren’t serious and may ask you for a discount. This is not the audience base that will allow your agency to grow.
If you are working in-house for an organization, you should always ask for your worth and showcase how you as a PR expert and PR industry leader can provide value.
Women in PR is working to help you get a seat at the boardroom table and move into a leadership position. We encourage you not to settle because the minute you settle for less than you deserve you get even less than you settled for.
It’s not just women that are being affected by not getting into leadership positions and not getting paid what they are worth – it’s both women and their families who are being shortchanged. To the tune of $700,000 up to $2 million over the course of their PR careers.
Women in PR has several resources available to help you succeed and we encourage you to take the next step to move forward in your career.
You can access our step-by-step plans to get paid what you’re worth through our programs and you can read our PR tips in the digital Women in PR Magazine.
Women in Leadership Program: Get Paid What You’re Worth
You can increase your value as a Women in PR by augmenting your expertise and building your skills. What this does, in addition to adding value to your PR services, is to also boost your confidence to the point where it can cause real paradigm shifts in mindset.
Many of us have difficulty talking about money—especially when it comes to quoting prices for our PR work. However, if you’re going to be successful in public relations, you must learn how to determine your rates and you need to know what other women in PR are earning.
In fact, one of the most common challenges you will face as a PR executive is how to determine your rates and how to ensure you are getting paid what you are worth. In the Women in PR Leadership Program, we are providing you with a step-by-step plan to increase your earning potential.
Women in PR Leadership Challenge: Position Yourself As A PR Expert
You’ve spent years working as public relations professional, but you want to be recognized for your accomplishments. Whether you are currently leading a team or looking to advance your PR career, there are several qualities that allow you to successfully lead and set yourself apart from the rest. In the Women in PR Leadership Challenge, we provide you with a daily actionable to help you position yourself as a PR expert.
Women in PR Leadership Academy: Member Resources
The Women in PR Leadership Academy is an online training platform for women who want to build meaningful connections, find value in their PR careers, and elevate their personal brand. Members have access to complimentary monthly webinars, video replays from our events, and our pillar leadership courses. Members also receive the opportunity to be interviewed in our digital magazine and submit articles for consideration.
TAKE ACTION
You can support Women in Public Relations by sharing this article on social media, reposting with proper attribution on your website and becoming a member of our organization. You can also donate to support our growing programs or contact us to learn about corporate sponsorship.
Thank you for helping us to move women in PR into confidence and leadership. Thank you for investing in gender equality!
Your generous donation will help to fund programs for the women who need them the most, and support our work toward a more equal future.
Talia Beckett
Talia Beckett Davis is the Founder of Canadian Women in Public Relations and American Women in Public Relations. She works as the Managing Director of Pink Pearl PR.
