Columbus Women’s Commission Launches Next Phase of Equity Campaign
The Columbus Women’s Commission today announced the next
phase of its signature equity campaign titled “The Columbus Commitment: 100
Adopters. 100 Days. 100% Committed.” This voluntary, employer-led initiative calls
on local businesses to commit to learning and implementing practices that
improve gender- and race-based inequities in the workplace, with a particular
focus on pay disparities. So far, 287 Columbus employers have signed the pledge
to join. The campaign to recruit 100 new adopters begins March 25 and continues
through July 3.
“In Franklin County, women comprise over 50% of the
population, but one-in-four women are economically insecure and struggling to
pay for food, housing, medical care and other essential living needs,” said
First Lady Shannon Ginther, chair of the Columbus Women’s Commission. “Although
the pandemic didn’t create these burdens, it highlighted and heightened so many
of the barriers women face. We are committed to reversing these trends and further
expanding equity throughout Columbus and across Central Ohio.”
Women in the United States earn, on average, 83 cents for
every dollar that a man earns. This gap is even wider for women of color: Latina
women earn 58 cents, and Black women earn 63 cents. The COVID-19 pandemic also disproportionally
impacted women, with approximately 2 million leaving the workforce nationwide
due to persisting pay disparities in almost every occupation and the lack of
affordable and high-quality child care.
“Dismantling barriers and reducing
gender-based inequities is crucial to the economic vitality of women and our
entire community,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, who formed the Columbus
Women’s Commission as an advisory board in 2017. “By moving the needle on these
important issues, we will ensure that even more of our residents share in our
city’s success.”
The Columbus Women’s Commission will host a webinar today
from 12-1 p.m. to kick off the new campaign. Guests must register
to attend. For more information about The Columbus Commitment and the work of the
Columbus Women’s Commission, visit www.columbus.gov/payequity.