I've been faithfully serving as a state employee in Kentucky for 27 years. It's a role I've dedicated most of my life to, but recently something deeply worrying has come to my attention: if someone is hired into my job role tomorrow, they will start with a $10,000 higher salary than what I currently earn. A person with no experience and no knowledge of the system will earn more than me - a veteran employee - just because they are newly recruited. This not only seems fundamentally unjust but also suggests the underlying issue of age discrimination.

Wage compression, from my personal experience, has been an issue that lacks the proper attention and redressal it desperately needs. It's time to bring this issue to the forefront. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, wage compression can lead to high turnover rates, decreasing productivity and morale among long-term employees. Not addressing wage compression hurts both the employees and the efficiency of our state's civil service.

This petition calls for the Kentucky state legislature to address and correct wage compression for state employees. It's not just about fairness for individuals – it's about maintaining a state workforce that feels valued and securing the quality of our state services. Support our cause – sign the petition and help us send a strong message to the decision-makers. We must urge them to rectify this inequality and restore fairness to our pay system.