(Mayor Marty Walsh/Twitter)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) — A two-day conference, aimed at promoting equal pay and equal opportunity for women in the workplace, began Thursday in Boston. Mayor Marty Walsh was in attendance.
The conference was attended by more than 11,000 women. They came to network, build skills for the workplace, and inspire one another to succeed.
Walsh told the attendees that he is working to improve the culture in the workplace for women in Boston.
“Employers need to be intentional about hiring and retaining women. Lawmakers need to not just pass legislation for equal pay for equal work, but they need to be out there talking about it. Men need to step up and help change the culture of our workplaces,” Walsh said.
Walsh said 250 employers have responded his call to close the gender wage gap.
“They are committed to reporting wage data to adopt best practices, and to retain and promote women. This work allows us the opportunity to see where the problems are, where the structural issues are with wages,” Walsh said.
Walsh said he is also promoting an initiative to train women to negotiate for higher pay, rather than settling for making less than a man for the same job.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Mike Macklin reports