EOI Updates Legislators: End the 10-year wait, pass paid family and medical leave in WA February 10, 2017 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins In the decade since Washington state’s House Appropriations Committee last heard a paid family leave bill, we’ve learned a lot about how the first year of life sets the foundation for lifelong health and well-being, how our aging population and the gender wage gap affect our whole economy, and about the positive outcomes – and shortcomings – […] Read more »
EOI Updates Reject SB 5541: Equal work deserves equal pay — regardless of gender, race, or age February 9, 2017 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins Legislators should reject Senate Bill 5541, which proposes lowering the minimum wage for teens in Washington state. Teenagers work for all sorts of reasons, including to pay for college, to support themselves, and to support their families. A recent Urban Institute study of youth who left high school and went to work found that the […] Read more »
EOI Updates WA legislators considering legal cover for employers limiting compensation discussions February 1, 2017 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins Giving employers legal permission to impose more limits on discussing compensation than on talking about the Seahawks or the weather, as Senate Bill 5344 proposes, takes us backwards. We know the stats – at every age, education level, in nearly every occupation – women are paid less than men, and women of color are paid least […] Read more »
EOI Updates Proposed salary history legislation would help limit gender, race inequality January 31, 2017 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins Washington legislators are now considering salary history legislation (HB 1533), sponsored by Rep. Laurie Dolan (D-Olympia), that would prohibit employers from asking applicants, during the initial interview, what their wages were in previous jobs. (Employers could get that information once they offer the job and the salary that goes with it.) Massachusetts passed similar legislation in […] Read more »
EOI Updates Inslee’s budget is pragmatic — but our students need state leaders to go bold December 20, 2016 / October 30, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins It’s time to get bold. Read more »
EOI Updates Washington joins growing list of states with paid sick and safe leave for all — and a better minimum wage! November 9, 2016 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins Washington has joined the growing number of states to adopt paid sick and safe leave for all workers with approval of Initiative 1433. Starting in January 2018, everyone working in Washington will be assured at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. An estimated one million workers in the state […] Read more »
EOI Updates Vote for an opportunity economy October 24, 2016 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins You got your ballot in the mail. Now what? Vote! Our votes up and down the ballot will help shape our state and nation for decades into the future. Among the many important issues and candidates, Initiative 1433 and the Sound Transit measure allow us to directly boost economic opportunity and vitality in our communities. […] Read more »
EOI Updates Closing our stubborn gender wage gap begins and ends with us September 8, 2016 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins August 26 commemorated Women’s Equality Day, the date in 1920 when women won the Constitutional right to vote in the United States. This year the date had a little more emotional kick with a woman running for the first time as a serious contender for the Presidency. But it’s taken nearly a full century to […] Read more »
EOI Updates Study: ‘B-minus’ for WA workplace laws concerning expectant and new parents August 31, 2016 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins SEATTLE — The Evergreen State has room for improvement when it comes to protecting working families, according to a new report. The National Partnership for Women and Families gave Washington a “B-minus” grade in a recent study assessing states’ workplace policies to protect expectant and new parents – including paid family leave and workplace accommodations […] Read more »
EOI Updates Report from the white house summit on the United state of women June 17, 2016 / October 26, 2026 by Marilyn Watkins It was a privilege to be invited to attend the White House Summit on the United State of Women, held July 14-15 in Washington, DC. Just being in a room with 5,000 people – mostly women – who are working to promote the economic and political empowerment of women and girls across the country was […] Read more »