Large Companies Sign Pledge to Reduce Gender Pay Gap

Some of America’s largest employers, including Apple, Target and Coca-Cola, are committing to help reduce the gender wage gap, the White House announced.

Twenty-nine companies signed an “equal pay pledge,” joining 28 initial signatories to an initiative launched in June, the White House said.

In an Aug. 26 fact sheet, participating businesses describe the steps they’ve taken to address the gender wage difference. For instance, Target said it trains leaders to make decisions without bias or stereotyping.

The White House says full-time women workers earn 79 percent of what comparable men receive.

By signing the pledge, employers agreed to conduct annual gender wage analyses for each of their occupations and review hiring and promotion procedures to lower unconscious discrimination, the White House said.

Other corporations to take part include Visa, CVS Health, Hilton and Nike.

These businesses are acting voluntarily to decrease the wage gap, but legislation to ensure pay equity has stalled in Congress.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that worker access to pay information is critical to fighting wage discrimination, but they’re still not likely to come together to move a pay equity measure any time soon.

Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on key provisions, such as employer penalties.