Rep. Juanita Brent calls on legislature to enact Ohio Equal Pay Act

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland)  today recognizes Equal Pay Day, a day observed nationally during Women’s History Month that highlights the pay disparities that still exist between men and women in the workforce. On average, women are paid $0.82 to every dollar a white man makes. This gender pay disparity worsens when broken down by race, as statistics show that Black women earn $0.58, Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander women earn $0.75, Native American women earn $0.50, and Latina women earn $0.49 for every dollar that a white man makes. 

“One of the ways to put Ohio families first is by enacting the Ohio Equal Pay Act, which will make sure there is transparency in salary range and eliminate the unnecessary salary history on job applications,” said Rep. Brent. “Women of color, mothers and people with disabilities who are already disproportionately affected by wage inequality are now having to bear the weight of the childcare shortage caused by the pandemic, resulting in even more disparities.”

Rep. Brent is a co-sponsor of the Ohio Equal Pay Act which addresses the inequalities of the gender pay gap and would require employers to provide equal pay and opportunities in the workplace regardless of gender. The bill also encourages transparency in the workplace and empowers employees to negotiate for the earnings they deserve. The bill is currently in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.