The gender pay gap, which measures the percentage difference in average gross hourly earnings between men and women, amounted to 18% in Germany, as of 2021. As in previous years, this was considerably higher than the EU27 average of 13%. Another study also point out that male tech workers in Germany earn almost 15,000€ more per year than their female counterparts. Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA workers also face various kinds of discrimination at work, barriers to opaque promotions to vague performance reviews. However, it can be difficult to advocate for oneself or challenge these incidents when one is uncertain of the laws surrounding pay, benefits, and other issues in the workplace. This uncertainty is exacerbated by the current climate in tech. Companies have imposed hiring freeze and have laid off hundreds, if not thousands, of workers.

This workshop for PyLadies members with Berlin Tech Workers Coalition, grassroots organization that empowers tech workers to build collective power and get involved in campaigns that make a positive impact on our society, aims to empower workers in tech of their rights in the workplace. The workshop will discuss what to expect from contracts and how to navigate termination agreements, two common situations where workers can "sign away" their rights.