Baton Rouge, La. — December 21, 2021 — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced today the establishment of the City-Parish Equal Pay Commission to promote pay equity amongst area employers. The commission seeks to close the pay gap for women and minorities in order to strengthen families, reduce poverty, and lessen reliance on public assistance — all to the benefit of the local economy.

“Addressing these well-established pay disparities will benefit all of East Baton Rouge Parish as we continue to rebound and thrive from the pandemic,” said Mayor Broome. “We know when communities are committed to greater economic inclusion, they experience greater economic growth. Working to close the pay gap is not only the right thing to do, it will also have benefits for everyone.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median earnings that were 82 percent of those of their male counterparts.

The commission will begin meeting in 2022 and will be charged with the following responsibilities:

• Assistance: Working with businesses and educational institutions to develop, identify, and maintain best practices for encouraging pay equity for all employees.
• Implementation: Encouraging employers to implement equal pay strategies and practices in their places of business.
• Education: Educating businesses in the City-Parish about the importance of equal pay and pay equity issues.
• Research: Studying and reporting equal pay trends, including trends from comparable cities, to identify and implement best practices in City-Parish.
• Employer Recognition: Identifying and recognizing employers who implement and pursue equal pay practices.
• Equal Pay Model: Working to establish the City of Baton Rouge as a model city with regard to pay equity.
• Comprehensive Strategy: Develop and submit a comprehensive strategy to the Mayor-President on best practices regarding equal pay for employers.
• Employer Outreach: Establish and develop partnerships with public and private entities to raise equal pay awareness.