Former Press Aide to Kamala Harris Tania Mercado Speaks to BELatina About Latina Pay Inequity

Former Press Aide to Kamala Harris Tania Mercado Speaks to BELatina About Latina Pay Inequity
Photo credit: Intuit

Latina Equal Pay Day on October 3 showcases a critical issue: despite being indispensable contributors to the U.S. economy, with the highest workforce participation and fastest growth among labor force demographics, Latinas face the widest pay gap in America. This inequity goes far beyond salary — it affects total financial compensation and long-term rewards. Latina workers often experience longer job searches and, once employed, are paid significantly less. There is no denying that addressing this issue is essential for real progress.

In a conversation with BELatina, Tania Mercado, Intuit Principal Communications Manager and former Latina press aide to Kamala Harris during her tenure as California Attorney General, discusses the persistent challenges of Latina pay inequity. Drawing from her own experiences as a Latina navigating the workforce, Mercado sheds light on the barriers that exist and offers strategies to help Latinas advocate for their worth in today’s professional landscape.

What Tania Mercado Has To Say

As a Latina who has navigated the challenges of the workforce, what personal experiences can you share that highlight the difficulties many Latinas face when it comes to pay inequity?

It’s important to recognize that every Latina is unique, and we all have different backgrounds, cultures, upbringings, and experiences that profoundly shape our perspectives on pay equity. Speaking from my personal experience, navigating pay equity in today’s society requires a strong understanding of the value of our work. As Latinas in industries where there may not be a lot of us, it’s crucial to stay informed on compensation trends and back our salary negotiations with data and evidence-based facts. Applying this knowledge helps us determine fair market value for the work we do and never underestimate our worth.

Latinas are key contributors to the U.S. economy, yet they experience the widest pay gap. What do you believe are the underlying causes of this persistent disparity, and how can employers begin to address them?

Latinas in the US added $1.3 trillion to the GDP in 2021 alone. We are major contributors to the economy; there is no question about that. I am fortunate that I work somewhere that takes pay equity for all seriously. At Intuit, across all 7 countries and 16 offices, women earn on average $1.00 for every $1.00 men earn, and employees from underrepresented racial groups — including Latinos — earn on average $1.00 for every $1.00 White employees earn. Intuit commits to transparency, conducting thorough analyses of pay scales, taking action if needed, and then being open and honest about the learnings, so employees stay informed.

Given your professional expertise as a professional at a financial tech company, what strategies or tools do you recommend for Latinas to improve their negotiation skills and advocate for better financial compensation?

Culturally, some of us may have grown up conditioned not to ask for more or negotiate as to not seem ungrateful for an opportunity. Still, we are our strongest advocates. At the start of any new job, negotiations are critical aspects of salary management, so we should embrace these opportunities to push for fair compensation based on our experience, education, market, location, etc. Together, we can work towards bridging the pay gap in society and ensure that future generations of Latinas are well-positioned to succeed.

In your experience working with political figures like Xavier Becerra and Kamala Harris, how have government policies or initiatives helped—or fallen short of—addressing the wage gap for Latinas?

I think it always helps when leaders of any organization understand the root causes of wage gaps in society, why they exist, and then lead with intentionality. I’ve been fortunate to work with leaders who believe in pay equity for all and can truly empathize with people who look like me and grew up the way I did, so they can work on policies that uplift us all.

What immediate steps can both the private and public sectors take to close the pay gap for Latinas, and what role can organizations like Intuit play in facilitating this change?

We can all help close the wage gap for Latinas writ large by implementing fair pay policies and practices, increasing equal access to education and training, and truly committing to a culture of inclusivity and diversity in the workforce for all. By working together and engaging in ongoing dialogue around pay equity for all, we can create a more just and equitable global workforce for the Latinas who make every organization stronger together.

Tania Mercado’s insights reveal the complexity and urgency of the Latina pay inequity crisis. While the road to pay equity remains long, it is one that requires collective effort, intentional policy changes, and a commitment to empowering Latinas in every corner of the workforce. And the time for action is now.

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