Democratic Staff of the Joint Economic C

Gender Pay Inequality Democratic Staff of the Joint Economic C

The disparity between men's and women's earnings is not inevitable. As this report makes clear, there are several steps the United States can take to help shrink the gender pay gap. Following the example of many other industrialized countries, the United States could adopt family-friendly workplace policies such as paid family and sick leave, universal child care and flexible workplace arrangements. This would make it easier for both men and women to balance the demands of work and home, while ensuring that women are not penalized for becoming mothers and caring for their families. In addition, passing the Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee equal rights under the Constitution for women, and passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to build on prior legislation would help ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.