Governor Steve Bullock Asks Business To Close Wage Gap

Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force are asking Montana employers to pledge to close the wage gap in Montana. Employers can sign the pledge at equalpay.mt.gov.By signing the pledge, employers commit to implement two initiatives to promote pay equity in their company. Initiatives could include: providing flexible work schedules, encouraging diversity in hiring pools, and allowing for wage transparency.

“Montanans believe that we should earn equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender,” Bullock said. “I’m asking Montana employers to show their commitment to closing the wage gap by signing this pledge and instituting changes in their organizations to help Montana reach this goal.”

Last week, Bullock and the Task Force hosted the first ever Equal Pay Summit in Bozeman. At the Summit, attendees took part in discussions about ways to overcome obstacles to closing the wage gap and strategies for including more women in leadership positions.

Women in the U.S. earn, on average, 77 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as men. However, in Montana, women earn just 67 percent of what men earn.