The current pandemic has served to emphasize the racial and gender pay gaps that exist here in South Carolina. South Carolina is only one of four states that does not have laws in place to prevent pay discrimination.

The Act to Establish Pay Equity would require employees be paid the same wages for comparable work. It would require transparency regarding salaries and would make it unlawful for employers to request prior salaries on employee applications.This bill has been introduced by Representative Wendy Brawley.

Representative Brawley was born in Queens and currently lives in Hopkins, SC. She is married and has two children. She graduated from the University of S.C. in 1980 and Webster University in 1989. She has served on the Columbia and South Carolina Chambers of Commerce and as a member and Chairperson of the Richland One Board of Education. She is the CEO and publisher of IMARA Magazine, which serves to empower women of color in the areas of health, professional development, education, business and family.

She has served in the S.C. House of Representatives since June 20th, 2017.  And our branch had the good fortune to have her join us at our March meeting to speak about The Act to Establish Pay Equity.