Today, August 13, is Black Women's Equal Pay Day. In order to earn the same amount of money as a white man, a black woman must work until 2019, the year 2020. In other words, Black women must work an average of seven and a half extra months to earn the same amount of money for the same job. Think about it. This is the wage gap between white women and women of color.

The wage gap in the U.S. workforce is staggering, with women of color being the most affected: Women earn on average 82 cents on the dollar (open in new tab) compared to men, but according to a recent study by the National Partnership for Women and Families (open in new tab) open) Latina women are typically paid only 54 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men and 62 cents to black women. (In other words, over a 40-year career, black women are paid nearly $1 million less than white men, $946,000 less to be exact. According to the National Women's Law Center) (opens in new tab) With such massive disparities, it is impossible to have a fair workplace.

But the word "equitable" does not only apply to salaries. To create a truly equitable workplace, companies must also provide fair and equitable benefits, growth opportunities, and workloads for all employees, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other identifying factors. a new study released today by LeanIn.Org (opens in new tab), "The State of Black Women in Corporate America" (opens in new tab), exposes the inequitable realities that Black women face in the workplace. Backed by a range of findings, the study concludes that Black women face more barriers in the workplace than any other group. Some of the key findings include:

"It is very clear that the only way to make the workplace equal for women is to put the most marginalized women at the center," said LeanIn.org (co-founded by Sheryl Sandberg), the organization behind the study, co-founder and CEO, Rachel Thomas, says." If employers want to do better for women, they must do better for black women."

The report provides practical ways that employers can begin to create lasting, long-term change at their companies. Thomas cites the priority of supporting black women in particular, and holding leaders accountable for publicly disclosing how they do it in order to ensure accountability. Second, there should be an intersectional approach to any diversity and inclusion efforts. [Often women of color are overlooked because organizations think in terms of gender or race/ethnicity. Women of color are at the intersection of both of those identities."

Thomas points out another important finding of the study: despite all the barriers they face, the wage gap and discrimination, the report found that black women are more ambitious than white women. These women want to have a positive impact on corporate culture, to set a good example, and are interested in becoming top executives in their fields.

Companies must create an environment where Black women can thrive. They must create a culture that values the work of Black women. And they must create real equity, whether wage-related or not, with a particular focus on eliminating workplace inequities. As Thomas puts it, "If we only achieve equality with white women, we have failed."