In February 1973, a small group of women gathered to discuss forming an organization that would take action to end discrimination against women and improve working conditions in downtown Chicago. None of the founders could have envisioned the changes that would eventually be realized -- nor the role Women Employed would go on to play.
2009
WE launches Student Advocates for Success (SAS) to help low-income students advocate directly with policymakers to improve financial aid policies. SAS recruits and activates members at 17 institutions of higher education in Illinois, and plays a pivotal role in restoring need-based financial aid that had been cut for nearly 140,000 low-income Illinois students.
2008
WE adds its voice to a powerful coalition of national advocates in marking the first major women's rights victory of the Obama administration, the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This law ensures that employees can fight back if they experience pay discrimination.
2007-2008
WE writes and garners legislative support for the Healthy Workplace Act, a bill that would enable Illinois workers to earn up to seven paid sick days per year. We are leading a coalition of 66 organizations to promote the bill’s passage and held town hall meetings across the state to promote public awareness of the need for paid sick days.
2007
WE helps increase financial aid outreach by 250 percent through our advocacy with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
2006
WE helps win $38 million in funding for vital student assistance programs, making college more accessible to more than 200,000 low-income students.
2005
WE wins $12 million increase in tuition assistance for low-income college students in Illinois.
2004
WE launches Career Coach, an innovative online program available in English and Spanish that provides comprehensive career development assistance.
2003
WE helps pass Illinois Equal Pay Act, which guarantees protection of equal pay for equal work to hundreds of thousands of workers not covered under the federal law.
2003
WE helps educate more than 50,000 women about high-wage, high-growth careers in information technology.
2001
WE leads successful effort to ensure availability of child care subsidies for low-income working parents who are in education and training programs.
2000
WE wins adoption of new federal rules to strengthen fair pay practices.
1998
WE designs program to prepare women for training in technical fields.
1994
WE receives Exemplary Public Interest Contribution award from Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
1994
WE assists City of Chicago with developing a new sexual harassment prevention program for city employees.
1993
WE works with national coalition to win passage of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
1992
WE establishes award-winning collaboration of employers, women's and civil rights organizations, and federal officials to develop effective EEO strategies.
1990
WE presents research to Congress on the impact of discrimination on women, leading to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
1989
WE's 14 years of tireless work on behalf of Harris Bank employees finally results in a $15 million settlement for female and minority employees who were discriminated against -- the largest ever between the Department of Labor and a private employer.
1988
WE designs and conducts program to help low-income women enter education and training, eventually serving over 1,600 women.
1987
WE leads efforts to draft Illinois legislation requiring employers to grant job-protected family and medical leave and joins national coalition for a federal bill.
1985
WE initiates campaign to increase the access of lower-income women to education and training leading to good jobs.
1984
WE partners with schools and community organizations to provide career awareness programs to teen girls. Four years later, the Career Links mentorship program is established.
1980
Women Employed publishes its first recommended corporate policies to promote work/family balance and a handbook for working mothers.
1978
WE helps draft new federal rules making sexual harassment illegal.
1975
WE launches national effort to improve enforcement of equal opportunity laws.
1974
WE gives its first Congressional testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, urging action on employment discrimination in financial institutions.
