WHAT: Business and Professional Women (BPW)/St. Petersburg-Pinellas will hold its 17th annual “Unhappy Hour” on Tuesday, March 31, the symbolic day that the average woman in the United States earns the same amount of pay that her male counterpart earned in the previous calendar year. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in September 2019, the average woman makes just 81.6 cents for every dollar a man is paid, reflecting a gap that results in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages over the course of a career. For full-time, year-round workers, median salaries showed that women earned an average of $45,097 compared to men’s $55,291 in 2018 – the reason for the “Unhappy” Hour. Equal Pay Day has been historically recognized with Proclamations from the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County elected officials. The event is free to the Public. No RSVP is necessary. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available. For more information, visit www.bpwstpetepinellas.org.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 5:30 PM. to 7:30 PM. Brief remarks at 6:15 PM.

WHERE: Rococo Steak, 655 2nd Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

WHY: When the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, women were earning an average of 59 cents on the dollar compared to men. Today, while women hold roughly half of all jobs, and their earnings account for a significant portion of the household income that sustains the financial well-being of their families, they still experience a gap in pay compared to men’s wages. For women of color, the pay gap is even greater. At the current rate of change, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research has estimated that the wage gap will not close until 2059.

About Business and Professional Women (BPW)/St. Petersburg-Pinellas
Founded in 1919 at the national and state levels, and in 1966 at the local level, BPW crosses generations, occupations and political parties. BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas is the local chapter of BPW/Florida, which is affiliated with the national BPW Foundation. BPW’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. General membership meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House in downtown St. Petersburg. www.bpwstpetepinellas.org.

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