Stories | April 5, 2017 | Read Time: 4 minutes
You Work Hard for the Money—and Your Rights
The workplace should always be safe and free from discrimination. Many brave men and women before us fought hard to secure freedom and justice for employees. Inspired by these pioneers, Monsanto has pledged to help continue the advancement of human rights throughout our business, industry and partnerships. For those in the United States, it’s helpful to look back and appreciate the rights we enjoy that weren’t granted to our great-grandparents. Learn and explore how life, work and laws have changed.
True or False
The first U.S. child labor law forbade kids from working more than five hours a day.
False. Double it. In 1842, Massachusetts passed a pioneering law limiting children to a 10-hour workday. Child labor is a global issue. For instance, children under 14 in India may be at risk of being denied schooling and illegally employed. To help stop this practice, Monsanto partners with social workers, continually monitors local farms and creates incentives for villages working to stop child labor.
True or False
In the late 1800s, male labor advocates fought to raise wages of both men and women.
False. They felt married women shouldn’t work. Labor leader Frank K. Foster encouraged paying men more to keep married women out of the workplace. In the U.S., jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are overwhelmingly occupied by men. Monsanto values the minds and talents of all genders and seeks to empower women to pursue careers in STEM. We firmly believe innovation and inclusion go hand-in-hand.
True or False
Less than 40 years ago, a woman risked losing a promotion if her employer discovered she was pregnant.
Hard to imagine, but true. Before the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, private employers could deny women raises, promotions and training simply for having children or being pregnant. Do Working Mothers Still Face Challenges? Yes. As a company, we work to provide the flexibility employees need to reach their full potential both at home and the office. Monsanto offers job-sharing arrangements, work-from-home options and onsite daycare to help parents find a balance between work and life.
True or False
Men reached their highest earning potential in their mid-20s during the Industrial Revolution.
True, and hard to imagine nowadays. Work was very physical, so the marketplace valued health, fitness and strength more than anything. Today, most men hit their peak earning potential in their 40s and 50s. Too often, people face discrimination based on their age. Monsanto is an equal opportunity employer and we hire and promote people based on their qualifications, not age. We know the talent, knowledge and experience of our employees is our greatest asset and key to our success.
True or False
Most states in the U.S. have laws protecting LGBT employees.
False. Unfortunately, sexual orientation can be a fireable offense in some states. Thirty-one states lack anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBT employees. We’re proud to join other companies in support of the Equality Act. If passed, this federal legislation will provide the LGBT community with the same rights as other protected groups. Monsanto is proud to have a diverse workforce and we value and respect the differences of our employees.
We’ve Come a Long Way, But There’s More To Do
Over the past 200 years, the United States has taken significant steps to protect the rights of workers. As a global company, we know there are still places where these privileges are not granted to everyone. Over the past decade, we’ve challenged ourselves, partners and customers to conduct business in a manner valuing the dignity of all people and respecting their human rights. Monsanto is committed to helping respect and advance human rights throughout the world.