16 Tips on How to Celebrate Equal Pay Day this year

Today there are people trying to take away rights that our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought for: our right to vote, our right to choose, affordable quality education, equal pay, access to health care. We the people can't let that happen. Kerry Washington

April is here, and so is spring and sunshine. Wouldn’t the faces of women all over the world shine brighter if March 21, 2020 or Equal Pay Day would become a reality all through the year?

Here are 16 tips for every woman on how to make the most of Equal Pay Day:

#1 Make some noise - nobody has ever heard a silent scream! Channel your confidence into words and talk to your boss about why you should be paid as much as your male colleagues.

#2 Find a boss lady in your profession and seek mentorship from her. 

#3 Enquire about the highest-paid female member of your team and seek out tips from her on how to get there.

#4 Speak up for yourself and the pay you deserve to get. You are your best advocate.

#5 Excel at your work - ensure that you are putting your best foot forward always.

#6 Do some research. There may be career opportunities or provisions for equal pay that you are unaware of.

#7 Spread the word on social media by posting on social media channels.

#8 Develop your career goals for 2020 and think of practical ways to get from where you are to where you want to be.

#9 Participate in an event on 31 of March to show your support for the movement.

#10 Don’t be a passive pushover - motivate yourself to be proactive in salary negotiations.

#11 Involve men in the discussion - help them see your side of things.

#12 Highlight the inequity at your workplace by making it an agenda in the next workplace meeting.

#13 Engage other women in your surroundings to ignite and spread the fire. 

#14 Wear red to symbolize how women are still ‘in the red’ for equal pay.

#15 Together is more - create a web of support for women to put forward their thoughts.

#16 Remind yourself that your voice counts. You are the change you are seeking.