Economic Justice and Employment Rights
Women have faced a long history of discrimination in the workplace, relegation to low-paying jobs, and harassment based on their gender. Women workers in the United States still earn less than their male counterparts for the same work. For women of color, the disparity is even greater. Women are still subjected to harassment and gender stereotyping on the job—both of which result in limiting women's advancement in the workplace. Women may be asked about their plans for marriage or family and then denied opportunities based not on their abilities, but because of gender stereotypes.
Women are also still more likely to bear family caregiving responsibilities at home, such as caring for sick children or relatives. When employers require workers to choose between their work and their family, women are again disproportionately affected and more likely to suffer adverse impacts on the job, including being discharged.
Further, when women are forced to leave work, they are disproportionately denied access to unemployment benefits. Restrictive eligibility requirements result in more women unable to receive benefits. And because women are increasingly an important source of family financial support, this means more families and children become financially vulnerable.
Since 1978, Legal Voice has been fighting for equity in the workplace for all women. We will continue to wage these battles in the courts and the legislature to combat discrimination and provide economic justice for all women.
Current Action
- Continuing the fight to expand and defend Washington's family leave insurance program, so that it provides wage replacement for employees who need leave to care for their own or family members' illnesses.
- Fighting to protect workers from discrimination based on their family caregiving responsibilities.
- Advocating in the courts and before the legislature and the state agency that enforces the law to ensure that women are not disproportionately denied unemployment compensation benefits.
- Supporting legislation that promotes pay equity and provides access to remedies for wage discrimination.
Women's rights. Nothing less.
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