County Board Adopts Nicholson Proposal to Improve Equity for Women Employees

MILWAUKEE – At last Thursday’s County Board meeting Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson celebrating Women’s History Month and seeking data that will aid Milwaukee County in advancing racial and gender equity for Women employees.

“Milwaukee County relies on its many talented women to push our county forward,” said Chairwoman Nicholson. “This data will help us determine the full extent that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the women in our workforce and help us pursue policies that lead to equitable outcomes in pay, promotions, and morale.”

The resolution requests an audit on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender and racial equity in Milwaukee County. It will specifically explore the impact of Administrative Orders related to teleworking and Expanded Pay Sick Leave, the effect those orders have on providing childcare, separation rates of County employees since March 2020, and hiring data during the pandemic.

The resolution also requests that the Department of Human Resources provide a report analyzing policy changes that could be implemented to improve racial and gender equity in Milwaukee County’s hiring and employment practices.

Supervisors Liz Sumner, Sequanna Taylor, and Felesia A. Martin co-sponsored the resolution.

A 2020 Milwaukee County audit found that although women were nearly half of the County’s top 100 earners, as a whole women employees earned less than their male counterparts in every year that was reviewed.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.