[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 28717-28718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11761]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 15, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 28717]]


                Memorandum of May 10, 2013

                
Advancing Pay Equality in the Federal Government 
                and Learning From Successful Practices

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and 
                Agencies

                Almost 50 years ago, when President John F. Kennedy 
                signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women were paid 59 
                cents for every dollar paid to men. Today, women are 
                paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. At the same 
                time, nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or 
                co-breadwinners for their families. Unjust pay 
                disparities are a detriment to women, families, and our 
                economy.

                The Federal Government is the Nation's largest 
                employer. It has a special responsibility to act as a 
                model employer. While salary ranges in the Federal 
                workforce are generally determined by law, the fixing 
                of individual salaries and other types of compensation 
                can be affected by the exercise of administrative 
                discretion. Such discretion must be exercised in a 
                transparent manner, using fair criteria and adhering to 
                merit system principles, which dictate that equal pay 
                should be provided for work of equal value.

                In order to further understand how the practices of 
                executive departments and agencies (agencies) affect 
                the compensation of similarly situated men and women, 
                and to promote gender pay equality in the Federal 
                Government and more broadly, I hereby direct the 
                following actions, pursuant to the authority vested in 
                me by the Constitution and the laws of the United 
                States:

                Section 1. Government-wide Strategy for Advancing Pay 
                Equality. Within 180 days of the date of this 
                memorandum, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
                Management (Director) shall submit to the President a 
                Government-wide strategy to address any gender pay gap 
                in the Federal workforce. This strategy shall include:

                    (a) analysis of whether changes to the General 
                Schedule classification system would assist in 
                addressing any gender pay gap;
                    (b) proposed guidance to agencies to promote 
                greater transparency regarding starting salaries; and
                    (c) recommendations for additional administrative 
                or legislative actions or studies that should be 
                undertaken to narrow any gender pay gap.

                Sec. 2. Agency Review of Pay and Promotion Policies and 
                Practices. To facilitate the Director's development of 
                a Government-wide strategy, each agency shall, within 
                90 days of the date of this memorandum, provide to the 
                Office of Personnel Management (OPM) information on and 
                an analysis of the following matters:

                    (a) all agency-specific policies and practices for 
                setting starting salaries for new employees;
                    (b) all agency-specific policies and practices that 
                may affect the salaries of individuals who are 
                returning to the workplace after having taken extended 
                time off from their careers (for example, those who 
                served as full-time caregivers to children or other 
                family members);
                    (c) all agency-specific policies and practices for 
                evaluating individuals regarding promotions, 
                particularly individuals who work part-time schedules 
                (for example, those who serve as caregivers to children 
                or other family members);

[[Page 28718]]

                    (d) any additional agency-specific policies or 
                practices that may be affecting gender pay equality; 
                and
                    (e) any best practices the agency has employed to 
                improve gender pay equality.

                OPM shall provide guidance to agencies with respect to 
                this request for information and analysis, including 
                its scope.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this 
                memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
                affect:

(i) the authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the 
head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent 
                with applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.

                The Director is hereby authorized and directed to 
                publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, May 10, 2013.

[FR Doc. 2013-11761
Filed 5-14-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 6325-01