Three things we learned from Equal Pay icon Lilly Ledbetter

By Leyla Seka and Cindy Robbins 

Lilly never wanted to be a hero. She just wanted to be paid the same as her male colleagues for doing the same work. She stood up for what was hers – and for what was right. 

Lilly Ledbetter is the namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed into law by Barack Obama in 2009. She was a mother, grandmother, and accidental activist.  

That’s right – accidental. When Lilly received an anonymous note showing she was being paid far less than her male counterparts, she didn’t sit on the information or make a big stink. She simply asked for what she was owed. And when the company denied her that justice, she took her request all the way to the Supreme Court, and eventually to the White House. 

Lilly never did get the money she was owed, but (in her own words) she achieved a “greater reward” in the form of legislation. Her namesake law ensures anyone can effectively challenge unequal pay as needed. 

Lilly passed away over the weekend at age 86. Finally, the accidental activist can rest. To celebrate her incredible life and journey, here are three things we learned from the wonderful Lilly Ledbetter.  

1. We have to normalize discussing pay

“When I went to work at Goodyear, I was told to never discuss my pay,” Lilly once said, “And if you did discuss your pay, you would no longer work there. So not a single person around me ever discussed their earnings. There was no way to find out where I stood, how I rated according to my peers.”

It has long been taboo to discuss salaries and pay, but that must change. Discussing pay helps employees make sure they’re being paid fairly and gives them a sense of control. We’re beginning to notice a cultural shift towards more openness and vulnerability in the workplace – we love to see it.

2. Sometimes the risk is worth the reward

“It was a tough decision to pursue the case, as I was just two years away from retirement. But then I thought about how much money my family was short-changed and how hard it was all those years while we were trying to make ends meet. It was very, very difficult when it didn’t have to be if I had been fairly compensated all those years.”

We took a similar risk in 2015 when we went to our CEO about pay disparities at Salesforce. Fortunately, he agreed to an audit, then spent millions of dollars ensuring that women and men are paid equally at Salesforce. This kicked off an equal pay movement across Corporate America. We, too, knew this was a big risk, but it was one we were willing to take in the name of equality and fair pay. 

3. The data is out there if you look for it

“It is heartbreaking to hear these cases of women working somewhere for twenty years at half the salary the men were making. That is a story I hear too often. Women are more likely to accept a first offer or give a low figure when negotiating. Invest some time and do your research on whatever corporation you’re interviewing with because there is so much out there now online.”

Lilly didn’t have these resources when she began work in the 1970’s, but we surely have them now. Do not get backed into a corner and take whatever is offered – do the research, ask the questions, connect with employees. 

Equal work for equal pay

While it feels like we’ve made great strides toward pay equity, Pew Research says the gender gap is only moderately better than it was in 2002. According to Forbes, for every dollar earned by men, women today earn 84 cents, a 16% deficit. And the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap report tells us it will take at least 136 years to achieve global economic gender parity based on our current pace of change. These statistics are undeniable and unacceptable. 

We’re proud to be backers of the Lilly movie, which tells Lilly’s story and made its debut at the Hamptons International Film Festival last week. Director Rachel Feldman worked with Lilly to make sure the story was an accurate portrayal. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this film and its message of equality. 

Rest in peace, Lilly. Thank you for blazing this trail.