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Australian companies lead in workplace gender equality

Australian companies lead in workplace gender equality

 February 23, 2018

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The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has announced ​its latest list of WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holders.​ A record 120 organisations have received the ​latest ​citation which recognises employer commitment and best practice in promoting gender equality in Australian workplaces.​

WGEA Director Libby Lyons said the steady growth in the list indicated that the business benefits and competitive advantage gained by improving gender equality in Australian workplaces were becoming ever more widely recognised.

Trends among recipients include:
-​ ​entrenching organisation-wide flexible work
-​ ​programs to support women into leadership
-​ tailored parental leave policies to support use by both women and men
-​ initiatives to attract women into male-dominated roles
-​ ​supporting men’s caring responsibilities
-​ ​robust analysis and correction of gender pay gaps.

A continuing momentum and progress towards gender equality

“I am particularly delighted to see some of the innovative and exciting initiatives by our EOCGE citation holders covering, amongst other things, flexibility, paid parental leave, supporting women in leadership and addressing gender pay gaps,” said Ms Lyons. “WGEA data shows there is continuing momentum and progress towards gender equality in Australian workplaces. However, it also highlights the accountability gap between having a policy or strategy in place and being held accountable for delivering results. Leadership and accountability are essential if real progress is to be made in shifting the entrenched gender divisions in Australian workplaces. That is why the work of our EOCGE citation holders is so important. It is only through more employers showing this type of leadership and accountability that we will see the pace of real change increase."

Companies like EY and AECOM lead the way

Best practice companies like EY and AECOM are leading the way by offering progressive work cultures that clearly support the advancement of women. EY and AECOM's commitment to advancing women through their ranks and into leadership positions is impressive. Their range of programs aimed at recruiting, developing and supporting female talent are world-class. And their focus on maintaining diverse and inclusive work cultures, under-pinned by a strong track record of achievement, sets a firm benchmark for other companies across the world.

Take for example, the EY's impressive Women Fast Forward. "Women make up more than half the population of the world yet have long been overlooked as a vital talent resource that contributes to economic growth and prosperity. To accelerate closing the gender gap, we’ll need to equalize representation in the workplace, both in established economies and emerging markets" explains EY.

At AECOM, they're committed to driving positive change for women in the global workplace. They support empowerment, equality and opportunity by creating an environment where all their employees can reach their full potential. AECOM sees workplace gender equality as a multi-dimensional issue - and their effort, policies and programs are certainly industry leading.

Leading companies understand the importance of gender parity

And there are many further impressive companies who are celebrated also for their successful commitment and achievements when it comes to forging gender parity.

See the full list of organisations honoured in the Workplace Gender Equality Agency's latest citation and review if your employer is making a positive impact for women in the world of work.

 

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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.


                       

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