Obama administration keeps equal pay on the agenda with app challenge

The Obama administration is taking another "if Congress won't do the big stuff that needs doing, we'll do what we can" step, this time on equal pay. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was a nice first step, but it didn't come close to finishing the job, and this Congress won't pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which the president supports.

Without adequate government protection, information is an important way for women to protect themselves. To help provide information, the Obama administration has launched the Equal Pay App Challenge. Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett explains:

Right now, if you're a woman in the workforce, it can be surprisingly difficult to answer basic questions about equal pay: what's the typical salary for someone in your position? Should you be asking for more at the negotiating table? What are your fundamental legal rights?

When the Equal Pay App Challenge is over, you'll have information that helps you answer these questions, available right on your smartphone or computer. We believe that the same types of innovations that help you find movie times or get a great deal at a restaurant can help you protect your rights in the workforce.

The challenge invites software developers to submit apps by March 31, with winners to be announced on April 17. Women need more than a smartphone app to guarantee fair pay, but with women earning 77 cents for every dollar men earn, it's good to see Obama keeping the issue in the public eye and trying to do something to improve matters.