💰 Pay me what you owe me 💰
#WednesdayWisdom
"When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." —Audre Lorde
Morning Musings
Pop Quiz!
By a show of hands (or replies), how many have you had an honest-to-goodness conversation with your friends and/or coworkers about your salaries? {proudly raises both hands}
It's no secret that money talk is taboo, let alone how much money you actually make. And, if every HR department had its way, the topic would remain forbidden, which is why I'm advocating for transparency. Essentially the "system" is set up so that we never know how we rank and, as a result, if we're being underpaid. But knowledge is power.
Recently, Christina Wallace at Forbes blew the top off the pay gap for speakers at tech conferences after best-selling author and noted public speaker Luvvie Ajayi revealed The Next Web conference "doesn't have a budget for speakers." But, as it turns out, that wasn't the entire truth as some male speakers for the conference said they had been compensated.Â
A couple of years ago, Saadia Muzaffar, founder of Tech Girls Can, discovered she made 40 percent less than her male colleagues after a candid conversation with a male coworker. She then challenged her circle of friends to share their salaries to fight inequality. Similarly, when I asked an acquaintance about the range for a particular position, she revealed her exact salary and my jaw literally dropped ... it was nearly double mine!
I mention all of that to say we're doing ourselves a disservice by being so secretive about our salaries. It's a small, but oh so important step on the road to equal pay. So, like Saadia, I encourage you to openly talk about what your salary with your friends. And I'll start. Inbox me and I'd be happy to share.
Like Drizzy Drake said, "know yourself, know your worth." And if you can help other women in the process, all the more reason.Â
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
Speaking of careers, I recently had the opportunity to chat about changing careers and letting go of five-year plans with Angela Copeland of the Copeland Coaching podcast. Check out my episode here!
And, if you're in Chicago, you can catch me next month on a panel about millennial career paths. Did I mention it's FREE? Sign up here and major thanks to Justine for the invite!
Links I Love
If, like me, you're fired up after reading about the pay gap, then click through to find out how to get paid what you deserve (because you're worth it)...
This script takes the guesswork out of asking for a raise.
Why now is the perfect time to ask for a raise.
Six tips to help you get the raise you deserve.
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If you follow me on social media or have been subscribing to these newsletters for a while now, you know that I looove a good inspirational quote. So when I heard that the makers of Shine Text deliver some #MondayMotivation every day of the week directly to your phone, I squealed with joy. The messages go beyond quotes and GIFs to provide actionable items to help you slay your day. Join in the fun and sign up here!
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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this of LT in the City Weekly! Hit me up on the Interwebs below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!Â