Delaware statistics show that Black and Hispanic women make 68 cents for every one dollar a White man earns, and White women earn 82 cents per dollar. What’s the solution to make employment earnings more equitable in the First State?
- I think that openness is the key. Businesses with employees need to publish their standard pay scales for all of their positions, including raise increments, so that employees can see what they should be making to start, after three months, one year, etc. There should also be oversight by audit, whereby a company can be prosecuted, fined, sued and forced to give back pay if found to be paying more to some workers over other workers for the same job. I know that many people feel that incentives are appropriate to reward better-than-average work, but those incentives may also introduce a means to biased overpayments. If an employee performs better-than-average work, promote them. Bottom line, if an employee does their work, pay them the same rate as others in the same position. If they don’t do their work, let them go and find a replacement. If you want to give bonuses, give the same bonus to all employees and publish your bonus scale. Inequality introduces disharmony into any work situation, which is not a good business plan. — Ruth Ashby
Program will teach Delaware high schoolers about law enforcement careers
Two Delaware high schools will pilot a program this spring to help students pursue careers in law enforcement and the legal, forensic science and policy fields. Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington and Early College High School at Delaware State University’s Dover campus will each offer the after-school program. The initiative, called “Making a Difference,” is geared toward females and people of color, who are underrepresented in police departments and within law enforcement fields.
- Sounds like a good program. I hope the curriculum includes de-escalation techniques. It’s not just about “catching criminals.” It’s about creating safer communities. — Kristin Froehlich
