Equal Pay

This is in response to someone posting this link on Facebook.

Here's my thoughts on the subject. This goes for gender, race, cultural background, geography, etc... You get paid based on a combination of your skill level, what is competitive in the market (market demand), and your ability to negotiate. If you have a highly in demand skill, you can get paid more... but not more than what the market is willing to pay. If your skills are NOT in demand, they don't expect to get paid equal to someone who has skills that ARE in demand. And now... to take this to a different level... agree to work for a rate and then shut up about it. When being hired, if you are uncomfortable with the rate, then don't accept it. Hold out for more. If you DO accept the rate, then live with it. It was YOUR DECISION to accept the job at the rate. Don't come back later and say, but my male counter part is getting paid more. He's getting paid exactly the same the female... and that is WHAT HE AGREED TO!!! A female worker doesn't agree to work for one rate and then only receive 83% of that pay when her paycheck is cut. If Obama's plan is to pay everyone equal pay for a certain job type, then that's a different ball game. That's flat out socialism and we should fight that tooth and nail. Obama has already established himself as a socialist, which is just another reason why he will be a horrible leader of our great country.

Now... to take "equal pay" to a spiritual level. Please read Matthew 20:1-15. This tells the story of the Vineyard owner hiring workers to work the vineyard throughout the day. He agreed to pay each worker one denarius. Each worker agreed to the pay. At the end of the day, the worker that started first thing in the morning complained that he didn't get more than they guy that only worked one hour in the evening. The vineyard owner replied (paraphrased)... I'm paying you what we agreed you'd do the work for... what are you complaining for???? Here's the response in the Bible:

9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

 13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

Bottom line.  If you agree to work for a rate, then don't complain.  If you feel that over time you deserve more, then petition to your boss for more.  If he/she says no, then you have a decision to make.  Quit or keep working for the rate that you agreed to.  If you truly think that the market will bare your rate, then quit and negotiate a new rate with a new employer...  HOWEVER....   

DO NOT ask for legislation because you are a bad negotiator or you agree to one thing and change your mind later! 

Last thought...   WE ARE NOT A SOCIALIST COUNTRY!  WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME ONE!!!