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StubHub Partners With TIME’S UP In Efforts To Close The Pay Gap

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October is notoriously known as the busiest month in sports –affectionately dubbed “Sportober” due to all major sports leagues being in session. On October 1st, in support of TIME’S UP, an organization that insists on safe, fair and dignified work for women of all kinds and the U.S Women’s National Team Players Association’s campaign, “Time’s Up, Pay Up,” StubHub shared their plans to donate $1 per order up to $100,000 for all sports event purchases on StubHub during October. When the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team won the World Cup in July, it brought the equal pay discussion front and center. Women, especially women of color earn significantly less than their male counterparts in the workplace, with Black women being paid 62 cents, Native American women 58 cents and Latinas just 54 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. That pay gap costs women to lose about a million dollars – over the course of their careers. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, President of StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace spanning 44 countries, wants to help alleviate the pay gap by galvanizing the company to support the TIME’S UP movement.

"The time is now for us to address the pay gap between men and women, both on the field and off," said Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, StubHub president. "The U.S. Women's National Team generated an overwhelming sense of fan pride and enthusiasm during the Women's World Cup, borne out by a 25% increase in ticket demand on StubHub during the finals. We are proud to support the Time's Up, Pay Up campaign during 'Sportober, the busiest month in sports' and help draw further attention to the issue. We urge our fellow fans to join us in the fight to close the gender pay gap."

Ahead of the partnership with the TIME’S UP foundation and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association’s campaign, I spoke with Singh Cassidy about the importance of closing the pay gap, StubHub’s commitment to fueling the fight for pay equity and her thoughts about being a woman of color striving for equal pay.

Dominique Fluker: Recently, StubHub announced its support for the TIME’S UP Foundation and the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association's campaign, "Time's Up, Pay Up." Why is it important for StubHub to join in on the fight of closing the pay gap?

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy: October is the busiest month in American sports when every major sports league is in session. While all eyes are on season starts, post-seasons, and major matchups, there is one fight where we’re paying particular attention. The stunning World Cup victory this summer by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team brought the discussion about gender parity front and center - a discussion that is core to our company values of diversity and inclusion. We care deeply about keeping this discussion going. 

The U.S. Women’s National Team generated an overwhelming sense of fan pride and enthusiasm during the Women’s World Cup, borne out by a 25% increase in ticket demand on StubHub during the finals. The public stands with USWNT players in calling for gender parity, and we’re proud to speak out and take action on this issue.

Fluker: Women of color, earn less than their male counterparts in the workplace. The pay gap costs the average woman about half a million dollars – and Black, Latina and Native women lose about a million dollars – throughout their careers. Share what the TIME'S UP™ Foundation means to you as a woman of color.

Singh Cassidy: The TIME’S UP and the #MeToo movement have broken open a mainstream dialogue for women to make their voices heard and speak out against systemic injustice. As a founder, executive and investor in Silicon Valley, many of my female peers over the years sought to downplay their gender in favor of conversations about their prowess as technologists or operators. Now more are open to talking about a wider range of their experiences as women leaders, including talking about bias and discrimination they’ve experienced and advocated for solutions thanks to the momentum of movements like TIME’s UP.  

Fluker: In addition to donating $1 per order up to $100,000 for all sports event purchases on StubHub during October, what other initiatives does the company plan to launch to continue to fight for pay equity?

Singh Cassidy: Beyond our giving to this campaign, we need to live our cultural values in how we operate our business as well. This year StubHub’s total compensation, including salary, bonus, and annual stock award value, for women was 99.8% of men’s in the The U.S. and 99.7% globally, and we remain committed to returning to the 100% gender parity we achieved last year. We embrace the expectation we have of ourselves to meet our equal pay pledge for our valued team members and are working to consistently achieve parity. The sports industry should be no different than technology. 

Fluker: What inspires you the most about the Time’s Up, Pay Up campaign and TIME'S UPFoundation?

Singh Cassidy: The TIME’S UP Foundation insists on safe, fair and dignified work for women of all kinds and enables more people to seek justice through their legal defense fund. They’re driving toward solutions to address systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace. I’m grateful for their work to shift workplace culture in a variety of industries toward one of safety, equity and dignity for women of all kinds and it aligns perfectly with StubHub’s values. 

Fluker: Why should everyone support and participate in closing the pay gap? 

Singh Cassidy: Our partners at TIME’S UP, said it well. Pay equity won’t be won overnight. It’s going to take all of us – business leaders, advocates, and policymakers – demanding action on the pay gap, now. 

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