'PXY's Whitney Young quits over pay disparity

[TheBigA]

She's obviously found a lawyer who thinks that she has a case.

Not hard to do. Taking a case and winning are not the same thing.

What is "equivalent?" If they do the exact same thing, there's no need for two people. It's not heavy lifting.

In the musicians union, someone is always designated as the leader, and they get double scale. Are you saying that's illegal in NY?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Not hard to do. Taking a case and winning are not the same thing.

What is "equivalent?" If they do the exact same thing, there's no need for two people. It's not heavy lifting.

In the musicians union, someone is always designated as the leader, and they get double scale. Are you saying that's illegal in NY?

In that case, there is a difference in the job requirements. The leader has additional duties. The question here is whether that was true or not of the morning show. If there was a producer and they were both talents without clearly defined roles then there's a legal question as to whether there was a difference in duties. If there was no difference in duties then there's a chance that the equal pay law would apply if there are no other quantifiable reasons for the disparity in pay.

 

[TheBigA]

If there was no difference in duties then there's a chance that the equal pay law would apply if there are no other quantifiable reasons for the disparity in pay.

If so, expect to see all co-hosts start to disappear. In some markets, they already have.

 

[davideduardo]

There may be a lot of scrambling by entertainment companies to officially define roles on multi-personality shows. Her contract was up and she wanted a new one that gave her pay parity with the person who had been on the show for four years previous to her joining. There seem to be a lot of holes in her argument, but it will be interesting to see what the response of the courts might be to an action of this type in the entertainment business.

There may, also, be many managers now wondering if they need a second person on the morning show if they have one now.

 

[flybynight]

My guess is that she found a lawyer who is willing to test the new NY Equal Pay law:

"The bill requires “equal pay for substantially similar work”

I paint a picture, he paints a picture.

He is Rembrandt.

Pay me for mine what he got for his.

There are numerous abstract elements that help determine what an on-air person makes, especially a morning show host.

Any lawyer who's trying to test the new law with a radio-pay case is a fool. If anything, this'll just be one more reason to pay experienced pros less rather than paying less experienced employees more.

By the way, I've seen male morning sidekicks make ONE QUARTER what the main male host gets. She's an idiot.

She should go get a job at Trader Joe's and try from their. I have a feeling she's got a brighter future at Trader Joe's too after this.

 

[tbolt909]

Her public resignation statement says nothing about taking legal action against Entercom. She simply quit her job. Does she know for sure what her co-worker was making? Maybe some of his income comes from commercial endorsements or ratings bonuses. Maybe someone gave her bogus information about his salary? Who knows.

She claims she quit to raise awareness on gender pay disparity. If she actually is pursuing legal action, what's the end game? Entercom could re-hire her at higher pay and then eliminate her position. Air talent gets replaced with voice tracking, part timers, or syndicated programming all the time. Her complaint is an exercise in futility...

 

[flybynight]

She claims she quit to raise awareness on gender pay disparity.

(cue crickets sfx)

If she actually is pursuing legal action, what's the end game?

To not get another job in radio? Someone should explain to her it's not necessary to go to all that trouble to never get hired again. Hell, having a positive attitude, showing up on time and doing your job only gets you a 50-50 shot at getting hired again.

 

[Element9]

I have not heard Whitney Young, nor have I heard the WPXY morning show, but I read her comments in the D&C and much of this thread with an open mind. Ms. Young admitted it wasn't wise to walk away from a paycheck. Then again, she isn't Hoda Kotb, nor a World Cup winning athlete. She has a bit more than a year's presence on the WPXY morning show. She refers to herself an a "host." Question: Was she, in fact, a "host?" Was she a "co-host?" Sidekick? News reader? Laugh track? Glamor piece? These are important distinctions.

There are better ways to negotiate for parity and equality. Walking out solves nothing. As most people in any business know, "it's easier to get a new job when you have a job." Did she approach the company and properly present her case? I'm not an attorney. Unless I'm mistaken, none of the posters here are members of the (NY) Bar. From a layman's perspective, a lawsuit seems a heavy lift, even with the recently enacted legislation which as noted, has loopholes. Entercom has a suite of attorneys, she has one. Ms. Young's attorney will have to be astute and media savvy to present her case in court and to the court of public opinion, which may have a bearing on Entercom. If the lawsuit creates issues within Entercom and the Rochester community, the company may decide to pay to make it go away. From my subjective perspective, it's more likely Entercom takes a firm stand and makes an example of young Ms. Young. This is not beanbag.

As a result of Ms. Young's decision, a few things are likely to happen: (1) employers will make contracts even more clearly defined as to the role(s) of performers, e.g., "Co-host"; "Contributor"; "News reporter"; "Producer", each of which would have a lesser degree of importance, visibility and mic-time than the "Host," thereby warranting a difference in salary. (2) Ms. Young, judging (only) by the picture accompanying the story, will get a TV gig. That may be small consolation. TV reporters in Buffalo and Rochester, especially MMJs and newbies, reportedly aren't generously compensated. Legacy anchors make the big bucks. A recent story in the Buffalo News revealed that some television reporters and meteorologists in Buffalo work part-time jobs (outside the business) to pay the bills. (3) In five years Ms. Young will look back at her decision to "walk" and thank her lucky stars that she got out of the business.

Bon chance, mademoiselle!

 

[TheBigA]

From my subjective perspective, it's more likely Entercom takes a firm stand and makes an example of young Ms. Young. This is not beanbag.

It's been interesting to watch Entercom deal with AFTRA and the Writers Guild in places like New York City and Philadelphia. They haven't folded up like cheap suits. They have been tough negotiators. They have already dropped co-hosts in Los Angeles and other cities. Rochester is not immune.

 

[tbolt909]

If she has hired a lawyer and is suing Entercom, her contention is that she was paid less solely because of her gender. Entercom will certainly fight that claim. She also quit which eliminates any wrongful termination case.

She may think that being a Radio personality should be more lucrative. She got a dose of reality when they let her walk...

 

[flybynight]

They have already dropped co-hosts in Los Angeles and other cities. Rochester is not immune.

If ETM is willing to eliminate cohosts in market #2, I cannot imagine they won't jump at the idea for market #60.

I wonder if Ms. Young sought advice from radio friends...and did ANY of them think this was a great approach to dealing with the problem? There are so many angles ETM can take to blow this out of the water.

 

[Rob Piotrowski]

If Ms. Young has retained a lawyer they didn't advise her to stay out of the media limelight...https://www.wxxinews.org/post/connections-discussing-nuance-involved-pay-negotiations

 

[Rusty Bridges]

If Ms. Young has retained a lawyer they didn't advise her to stay out of the media limelight...https://www.wxxinews.org/post/connections-discussing-nuance-involved-pay-negotiations

That's not the way it works these days with young people, especially young women. Seems she's taken a page from the guy who holds the highest office in the country and OAC: Play it big, bold; double down and take no crap. Could be her attorney told her to shake it like a Polaroid and play "ball's out" (a football term wherein players go for a fumble at all cost.)

 

[four4rock]

Assuming that she's reasonably sharp and well advised, in today's social, political, and economic environment, I see this woman landing squarely on her feet... and probably better off financially. Like a surfer, she needs to ride the wave when it presents itself. Timing is everything.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I wonder if Nicholas Picholas is paying attention. Should he' get pay equal to Janet Snyder? And shouldn't Rob Lucas make substantially more than Janet Snyder since he works solo and has comparable numbers?

Get out the popcorn. This should be fun!

 

[flybynight]

I wonder if Nicholas Picholas is paying attention. Should he' get pay equal to Janet Snyder? And shouldn't Rob Lucas make substantially more than Janet Snyder since he works solo and has comparable numbers?

Get out the popcorn. This should be fun!

Only works for the magic vajayjay.

 

[Element9]

I wonder if Nicholas Picholas is paying attention. Should he' get pay equal to Janet Snyder? And shouldn't Rob Lucas make substantially more than Janet Snyder since he works solo and has comparable numbers?

Get out the popcorn. This should be fun!

It's a legitimate thought, but very likely moot in that Nick makes a good buck and has no desire to rock the boat. Besides, where's he gonna go? Certainly not back to the arena doing Sabres gimmickry, where he was often hooted and abused by fans. Lucas knows his place and it's a good one... he's said to be quite comfortable where he is. As to Ms. Snyder, she's the franchise and she knows it. Entercom Buffalo knows it too, which is why the company is bending over backward to accommodate her move to Boston (Massachusetts), where she'll broadcast to Western New York.

 

[flybynight]

It's a legitimate thought, but very likely moot in that Nick makes a good buck and has no desire to rock the boat. Besides, where's he gonna go? Certainly not back to the arena doing Sabres gimmickry, where he was often hooted and abused by fans. Lucas knows his place and it's a good one... he's said to be quite comfortable where he is. As to Ms. Snyder, she's the franchise and she knows it. Entercom Buffalo knows it too, which is why the company is bending over backward to accommodate her move to Boston (Massachusetts), where she'll broadcast to Western New York.

Not to try and diminish the leverage (actual or perceived) of any air-talent, but IS she the franchise?

Would those younger demos really give a you-know-what if the 54 yr old Snyder is not on mornings any longer? How much can they possibly relate to her?

Again, not downplaying her talent. I think Janet is very talented and incredibly smooth on-air., but with talk of her moving out of town especially, how practical will it be to have a now-older woman on mornings who will no longer be as accessible in the market?

 

[Element9]

Not to try and diminish the leverage (actual or perceived) of any air-talent, but IS she the franchise? Would those younger demos really give a you-know-what if the 54 yr old Snyder is not on mornings any longer? How much can they possibly relate to her? Again, not downplaying her talent. I think Janet is very talented and incredibly smooth on-air., but with talk of her moving out of town especially, how practical will it be to have a now-older woman on mornings who will no longer be as accessible in the market?

I believe she is and I've talked to a few sales reps in the market who feel the same. Think about it... at 54, a large number of her female listeners grew up listening to her. They married, had kids, some divorced, some are grandparents... and she was one of the constants in their lives. One of the reasons that Kis, a CHR, holds on to a healthy number of Women in the 25-54 demo. So yes, she's the legacy of Kiss, arguably the face of the station. She's in extraordinarily good shape for a person of 54, appears vital and healthy and could probably ride the Kiss train for another ten years. That's money in the bank for Entercom Buffalo. She knows it. They know it. Quite the $ymbiotic relation$hip.

 

[flybynight]

She's in extraordinarily good shape for a person of 54

Is that your professional opinion?