TIME’S UP! We’re not talking about the microwave beeping that your burrito is ready or the proctor’s script for the ACT. We’re talking about a movement against sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. While this movement was originally started by women in the entertainment industry, their advocacy has expanded to include women in all careers across the country… including here in Iowa.
What is Time’s Up?
Time’s Up is an organization whose mission is to “create a society free of gender-based discrimination in the workplace and beyond.” They work towards equal treatment in the workplace, they fight sexual harassment, and they work to end the wage gap. Time’s Up currently runs a legal defense fund for women who need resources or financial assistance in pursuing action against their employers, past or present.
Why should Iowans care?
It’s easy to generalize big organizations and movements like Time’s Up or #MeToo as part of a national trend, not particularly relevant to us in the Midwest. However, these are issues that very much affect individuals here in Iowa. According to the National Women’s Law Center, the wage gap in Iowa is poor compared to the national average: ranked 37th in the country in 2018. While the federal Equal Pay Act, Title VII, and Iowa's Equal Pay Act require that employers pay men and women equally for the same work, the average woman in Iowa makes $.22 less per hour than their male counterparts. And it’s even less if the woman is black or Latino, who make $.60 and $.59 on the dollar, respectively.
In Iowa, sexual violence, assault, and harassment follow the national trends of being hugely under-reported. While it can be difficult to decide to take legal action against an employer, all workers have a right to a safe workplace. In Iowa, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (in cooperation with Title VII, the Federal Civil Rights Act) makes it illegal for companies to retaliate against employees who make a complaint about sexual harassment or assault. However, many companies break this law, which is one of the reasons why sexual harassment goes unreported.
What could Time’s Up mean for you?
If you’re not sure whether you’re being discriminated against or harassed, please read our article on being treated fairly in the workplace! While harassment, assault, and unequal treatment are far too commonplace, remember that it IS illegal and there are national resources like Time’s Up that can help.
Remember, too, that there are local resources: attorneys and law offices that believe the stories of survivors and victims. We care deeply about advocating for women and their rights, whether it be through supporting local businesswomen, representing women who have been harassed or discriminated against, or speaking out about about sexual harassment policies. You don’t have to go through this alone!
If you have more questions or think you may need a sexual harassment attorney,
please call us at (319) 826-2250 for a free initial consultation.
The above information is meant to be helpful, but is not meant to replace the legal advice of an attorney with whom you have an attorney-client relationship.