Partnering With LUNA Bar to Champion Women’s Equality

Even in 2018, women still make an average of 20 percent less than men for the same job. Although the issue has been discussed at least as far back as 1869 when a letter to the editor in The New York Times questioned why female government employees weren’t paid the same as male colleagues, there is still progress to be made. Thankfully, brands like LUNA® are stepping up and taking a stand to help women bust through financial inequality barriers.

A Modern Timeline of Equal Pay Milestones

Here’s a snapshot of recent milestones:

• 1883: Western Union Telegraph Company workers went on strike, partly to ensure “equal pay for equal work.”
• 1911: After battling with the Board of Education, women teachers in New York were paid the same salary as men.
• 1918 and 1942: Women stepped up with the labor effort during both World Wars, so the National War Labor Board required employers to pay men and women the same wages.
• 1963: President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Law, making it illegal for employers to pay a woman less than a man for the same job.
• 1968: Before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made segregated ads illegal, newspapers ran job ads for men and women in separate columns (and the jobs for women were often paid less)
• 1978: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibited employees from discriminating against pregnant women, in terms of pay, job assignments, or training.
• 1991: The Family and Medical Leave Act allowed eligible parents (regardless of gender) to take job-protected and unpaid time off.
• 2009: President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act into law, allowing those who believe they’ve been discriminated against to file a complaint with the government.
• 2017: >Women in Hollywood spoke up for equal pay in the film and television industries, paving the way for change through the #TimesUp movement.

Female Focused

In 1999, LUNA created the first nutrition bar for women and for decades, the brand has dedicated resources to further women’s empowerment, like creating a film festival, LUNAFEST, featuring short films by, for, and about women. LUNA has partnered with the Sundance Institute and SXSW to award grants to women filmmakers. In 2017, LUNA collaborated with LeanIn.org and American Association of University Women (AAUW) to fund 100 free salary negotiation workshops nationwide in support of Equal Pay for women. And it’s back at it again this year bringing even more awareness to the equal pay equality issue and arming women with tools to help them get the fair compensation they deserve.

Tips for negotiating equal pay

When it comes to closing the 20 percent gender wage gap, LUNA has assembled a knowledgeable team to support women who take a seat at the negotiating table. Here are some tips!

01: The total package

“Ask about other benefits that could make your total compensation package more lucrative. Additional paid time off, work-from-home flexibility, child care and transportation benefits are all valuable pieces to the entire puzzle.”
—Alaina Percival, CEO, Women Who Code

02: Stand your ground

“Know what you want to take away from the negotiating table and don’t let anyone else tell you what that should be.”
—Katrina Jazayeri, Owner, Juliette Restaurant

03: Get educated

“The secret to negotiation is being educated, collaborative and having the confidence to be assertive when you’re told no. The art of negotiation is turning a ‘no’ into ‘yes.’”
—Kimberly Holland, CEO, Icon Management Sports Agency

04: Keep emotions in check

“Negotiations shouldn’t be void of emotion, but know where and when to inject it. Practice speaking in a compelling way that can unite both sides.”
—Jodie Fox, Founder, Shoes of Prey

05: Squeeze every drop

“Always negotiate. Given statistics, it’s unlikely an initial offer was the maximum for the position. Advocate for what you deserve based on the skills and abilities you bring to the position.”
—Kim Churches, CEO, American Association of University Women (AAUW)