Equal Pay for Equal Work task force to release recommendations
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News from the Office of the Governor
MONTANA — Governor Steve Bullock and the Equal Pay for Equal Work Montana Task Force released the final report from the task force under his administration, which highlights accomplishments and provides resources and recommendations to continue to narrow the gender wage gap.
“All Montanans deserve equal pay for an equally hard day’s work,” Bullock said. “I established the Equal Pay for Equal Work Montana Task Force because when we fight for equal pay, we fight for more money in the pockets of Montana’s hardworking families. What’s good for Montana’s families is good for our economy, and the work to close the gender pay gap must continue to ensure that all Montanans, regardless of race or gender, have equal opportunity to prosper.”
The report provides information for continuing efforts to narrow the gender wage gap and includes recommendations for individuals, employers, elected officials, and local governments. It encourages women to pursue educational and career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities and learn effective wage negotiation strategies. It encourages employers to use fair hiring practices and pay competitive wages to recruit and retain a diverse and high-performing workforce, as well as to offer childcare solutions such as flexible work schedules, telework opportunities and on-site child care.
The report recommends implementing policies that promote paycheck transparency and paid family leave and provides a resource guide to implement changes similar to the resolution approved by the City of Bozeman to expand data collection, use best practices and commemorate Equal Pay Day.
In seven years, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Montana Task Force has held equal pay summits with as many as 300 attendees, proposed legislation to the Montana State Legislature designed to narrow the gender pay gap, partnered with the Department of Administration to conduct a pay equity audit of state government, hosted trainings/webinars to empower women in the workforce to negotiate for higher pay, worked with business owners to update internal policies, secured signatures from business owners, individuals and organizations across the state to take the Equal Pay for Equal Work Pledge, and showcased the stories of trailblazing Montana women succeeding in male-dominated industries in its 2020 Equal Pay Day Art Exhibit.
Bullock created the task force less than a year into his administration to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and develop private-public partnerships to narrow Montana’s gap. Since 2013, the pay gap in Montana has narrowed from 68.4 percent to 73.2 percent. He recently extended the Task Force through 2022.
