Salt River Project is the city of Tempe’s next Equal Pay Business Partner.

The community-based, not-for-profit water and power company was honored last week for its dedication to the Equal Pay for Equal Work program.

“I congratulate SRP on its commitment to ensuring equity for its workforce. It is companies like SRP that will enable our country to reach the goal of equal pay for everyone,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods in a prepared statement.

SRP provides reliable, affordable water and power to more than 2 million people living in central Arizona, according to a press release. The company is more than 100 years old and employs more than 5,000 people locally, making it among the largest of Tempe’s Equal Pay Business Partners.

“It is important to SRP to belong to a growing list of Tempe employers who value and promote gender pay equity as part of our inclusive organizational culture. As the nation’s third-largest public power utility, we want to ensure the expansion of gender representation and demonstrate our commitment to pay equity,” said SRP Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Essen Otu.

“Equity allows everyone to reach their fullest potential, which benefits SRP employees, customers and our entire community.”

SRP will also participate in Tempe’s Equal Pay Negotiation Workshops. The salary negotiation training classes will resume late this year and some of SRP’s women in leadership will share career experiences and challenges and offer helpful advice to empower other women to achieve their goals.

“SRP is doing its part to close the (inequity) gap,” said Maria Naff, an engineering manager for SRP. “Over the course of ones’ career, the lost income adds up. Closing the gap isn’t just a win for women, it has social and economic benefits also, since women are breadwinners in half of U.S. households.”

To become Equal Pay certified, Tempe businesses complete a self-assessment tool to determine if they truly are paying equal wages between genders for equal positions.

Those who qualify receive Equal Pay Business Partner status, which gives businesses the opportunity to use the Equal Pay Business Partner logo on their own websites and in hiring materials.

“Women who perform the same duties as their male counterparts deserve to be compensated equally. Pay equity has given women the opportunity to thrive!” said Kristen Keim, a field services liaison for SRP.