Significance of Equal Pay Act on Nursing Profession
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Abstract
This white paper discusses the Equal Pay Act of 1963, its significance to the nursing profession, people who are affected by it, and changes and amendments made since 1963. The paper seeks to explain the EPA, its history and how the Act changed over the years. It also seeks to explain importance of EPA to the nursing profession, and how this Act has helped deal with the wage disparity in nursing profession.
Significance of Equal Pay Act on Nursing Profession
Two people who work for the same firm, doing similar work, and have similar skills and responsibilities ought to be paid equally. This is what ought to happen.
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The only time that an employer is allowed to make an exception of this law is when one employer has a senior position, in order of merit (i.e. where an employee has been with the firm for a longer time than the other), where one employee’s job is of high quality or quantity, and any other factor apart from their gender.
This Act was passed by the congress in June 10, 1963, citing the effects of gender discrimination. According to the congress, gender discrimination led to poor living standards of employees, which greatly affected their health conditions and work efficiency (McKay, 2008). Gender discrimination also led to improper utilization of labor resources, caused labor disputes, and negatively affected commerce. The gender discrimination was also negatively affected output by the employees since it did not advocate for a healthy
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Neither have they managed to come up with a way of harmonizing the wages. The EPA has greatly helped in ensuring that women are not paid very lower wagers. In 1945, women received around 56% of what their male counterparts received. This has risen from 56%-71% (McKay, 2008). The wages that men receive have also increased with 35%. These changes and the amendments made on EPA are yet to help bridge the gender pay gap. Some people believe that unionization of nursing industry will put salaries in open and help bridge this gap, while others claim that unionization has not done anything to help deal with the wage