The Salary Negotiations Initiative Will Teach 10,000 New York City Women the Leadership Skills and Professional Development They Need to Help Close Gender Wage Gap
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) today announced the launch of “Ask for More,” a citywide initiative to train 10,000 women with the skills they need to negotiate their salary and benefits as well as advocate for promotions and leadership opportunities. Once fully implemented, “Ask for More” will be among the largest salary negotiation and women’s leadership initiatives in the country.
"We are unleashing the power of education and training to address the wage gap that denies women economic security, undermines their ability to support their families, seek higher education, and access health care," said First Lady Chirlane McCray. "This is the kind of program we must invest in, if we want to support women and their financial futures, and New York to continue leading the nation.”
“New York City cannot succeed if women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts,” said Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development. “‘Ask for More’ equips women of all backgrounds, across the five boroughs, with the skills and resources they need to successfully ask for their next promotion or raise.”
“These workshops bring New York one step closer to the city we want to be—one where everyone is getting paid what they deserve,” said Faye Penn, Executive Director, Women.NYC. “These free bootcamps are designed to reach women of all backgrounds throughout the boroughs. We’re proud to partner with AAUW to teach women how to ask for more as part of our effort to keep New York the greatest city in the world for women to succeed.”
“We want every woman to be able to articulate their value and negotiate their financial futures,” said Kim Churches, Chief Executive Officer, AAUW. “Through this partnership, we are thrilled to help thousands of New York women recognize their full potential and help the city become an even more equitable place for all.”
Starting in September, workshops will be offered as in-person bootcamps and an online course free of charge. These programs are designed to empower women by teaching them to assess their market value, research competitive salaries in their fields, and articulate their worth in a way that ensures success. Women can sign up to participate at Women.NYC.
In the coming months, the program will expand to include Spanish-language programs, as well as versions of the trainings tailored to women in specific industries. An employer roundtable and other conferences are also being planned for later this year.
“A key part of economic development is ensuring everyone has both the hard and soft skills needed to succeed in today's job market,” said James Patchett, NYCEDC President and CEO. "These salary negotiation workshops will provide thousands of New York women with the skills they need to advance in the workplace and get the equal pay they deserve.”
“When we support women in their efforts to secure equal pay for equal work and advance in their careers, there is direct positive impact on their personal health, safety, and overall well-being. These benefits also flow to their families and communities,” said Jacqueline Ebanks, Executive Director, New York City Commission on Gender Equity. “I applaud Women.NYC and AAUW in helping women across all five boroughs improve their negotiating skills. These programs underscore New York City’s commitment to investing in women and closing the gender and racial wage gap.”
"The gender pay gap continues to negatively impact women across this country, especially those of color, and I congratulate the City of New York on taking this highly innovative step to combat it,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity. “The pay gap is apparent even early on in young women's careers and only worsens over time -- undermining their hard work, perpetuating inequality, and making women at greater risk of poverty as they age. The ‘Ask for More’ salary negotiations initiative will help us to build a fairer society and empower women as they move through their careers.”
“In offices across this city, women are being paid less than they deserve; this is a status quo we can no longer accept,” said Alicia Glen, Women.NYC Chair and former Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development. “We’re giving women at all income levels real tools to advocate for themselves, negotiate for their worth, and put real money in their pockets.”
"Equality and access represent the very foundation upon which The New York Public Library stands." said Anthony Marx, President, The New York Public Library. "We are honored to join the City in support of New York's women, providing them with the free and collaborative space they need to advocate for themselves and ensure their future, long-term professional success."
“As one of the most fiercely democratic institutions in the city, our library strives to open doors for every Brooklynite by providing unparalleled access to information and education,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library and Women.NYC board member. “Therefore, we are thrilled to be part of the ‘Ask for More’ initiative and empower women across the borough with tools to get ahead.”
“These free salary negotiation workshops are terrific opportunities for our customers and the public to develop skills and strategies they are going to need for as long as they remain in the workplace,” said Dennis M. Walcott, President and CEO, Queens Public Library. “I want to thank to Women.NYC and the Association of University Women for partnering with Queens Public Library to open another avenue of success for people who rely on us to help them transform their lives.”
"Barnard is committed to empowering young women to pursue their passions, which requires that our students are prepared for success inside and outside the classroom,” said Sian Leah Beilock, Barnard College President. “We are pleased to partner with Women.NYC to hold a workshop on the negotiating skills women can use to ensure they are fairly evaluated and compensated for the work that they do.”
“As a female founder, having the perspective of negotiating for myself in the workplace to seeing my employees negotiate for more is something I have a lot of insight around,” said Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Rebecca Minkoff and Founder of the Female Founder Collective. “I am pleased to be able to partner with NYCEDC to ensure we get more women the skills they need to succeed and secure equitable pay in the workforce.”
The first training sessions will take place in the following locations:
Bronx
Tuesday, September 24, 6pm
NYPL Bronx Library Center
310 East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10458 (map)
Brooklyn
Monday, October 21, 6pm
Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch
Dweck Auditorium, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn NY 11238 (map)
Manhattan
Friday, October 4, 6:30pm
Fullstack Academy
5 Hanover Square, New York NY, 10004 (map)
Monday, October 7, 6:30pm
Athena Center at Barnard College
Barnard Hall, James Room 4th floor, 3009 Broadway, New York NY 10027 (map)
Monday, October 28, 6:30pm
Rebecca Minkoff’s Female Founder Collective
SAP, 10 Hudson Yards, 501 W 30th St New York NY 10001 (map)
Queens
Thursday, October 10, 6pm
Thursday, November 14, 6pm
Thursday, December 12, 6pm
Queens Library Central
89-11 Merrick Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432 (map)
Monday, November 4, 4-6pm
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
31-10 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)
Staten Island
Tuesday, November 5, 6pm
NYPL St. George Library Center
5 Central Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301 (map)
Since AAUW’s initiative was launched in Boston in 2015, close to 100,000 women nationwide have completed its salary negotiations trainings. In post-course surveys, 95 percent of workshop attendees say the information is useful and relevant, while 85 percent of online program participants report feeling more confident asking for a raise or a promotion. Thousands of women who have taken the course say that they have successfully negotiated salaries 10 to 20 percent higher than what was initially offered.
AAUW’s research paper, “The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap,” found that:
- The gender pay gap exists across all demographics, and in nearly every line of work—including female-dominated professions like teaching and nursing
- While women ages 20 to 24 are paid 90 percent as much as men, the gap grows over time; women ages 25 to 54 are paid 78 percent as much as men.
- The pay gap tends to be larger for women of color, and in some cases the gap is widening: Black women are paid just 61 cents for every dollar paid to white men. Latinas are paid just 53 cents for every dollar paid to white men.
- Though women in the U.S. now earn more college and postgraduate degrees than men, women with bachelor’s degrees working full time are paid 26 percent less than their male counterparts.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation creates shared prosperity across New York City’s five boroughs by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and we invest in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more about our work and initiatives, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About Women.NYC
When women succeed, the greatest city in the world becomes even better. Women.NYC is a groundbreaking initiative that both inspires women to advance their careers and provides them with the real tools they need for success. From free, expert legal advice, to networking and mentorship, to financial assistance, Women.NYC offers a growing portfolio of resources for working women.
About AAUW
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, our members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. Learn more and join us at aauw.org.
