Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows gender pay gap at $25k
Despite advances such as paid parental leave, women are still lagging in the workplace in key areas — including average earnings.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MEN still take home over $25,000 a year more than women, and gender balance stalls at top levels, with the number of female CEOs remaining stagnant, a new report shows.
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency scorecard, released today, also revealed almost 50 per cent of workplaces now offer paid primary carer’s leave, up 1.6 percentage points to 49.4 — the best result in six years.
Top women bosses short changed by $162,000
Research shows that the gender pay gap gets worse as you get older
Report examines factors that cause Australia’s gender pay gap
The scorecard showed there was a small drop in the gender pay gap in 2018-19, down 0.5 percentage points to 20.8 per cent, but men still take home $25,679 a year more than women on average.
The gender pay gap in Australia’s most heavily female dominated industry Healthcare and Social Assistance declined 0.2 percentage points but remains solidly in favour of men up 1.2 percentage points from 14.7 per cent in 2015-16 to 15.9 per cent in 2018-19.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Libby Lyons said she was disappointed with this year’s results.
“There’s not a lot to crow about, we’re seeing improvements but they’re modest, I would have to say that concerns me,” she said.
The report card showed a “fantastic” 13.3 per cent increase in the number of employers offering policies and strategies around family and domestic violence, and 8.9 per cent increase in paid domestic violence leave, she said.
“Anecdotally I’m hearing particularly from different industry bodies that there’s a bit of diversity and inclusion fatigue out there, that really worries me because that tells me that employers just don’t get the business case,” Ms Lyons said.
“If you don’t address these things you are not smart, you’re not going to remain competitive, you’re going to be falling behind, you’re not going to have a workforce that is engaged and loyal.
“The business case is very, very clear, research by McKinsey estimates $12 trillion would be added to GDP if we close the gap between women’s workforce participation.”
Of the organisations which report to the agency, 72.7 per cent have a flexible work strategy for their employees to help them balance family life.
“That’s fantastic but there’s a problem because only 5.6 per cent of them have set a target for employee’s taking up flexible work,” Ms Lyons said.
While there had been an increase in the number of employers offering paid parental leave 51.6 per cent still don’t.
“Employers – don’t think about the short-term cost, look at the long-term benefit you will get from your employee if you offer paid parental leave,” she said.
“You will generally get an employee that will come back.
“They’re more engaged, more loyal, hard working, they want to contribute to your business and that in actual fact it’s saving you money because you don’t have to rehire and retrain.
“So it’s not the short term costs it's the long term benefit, and that long term benefit will ultimately come down to your bottom line.”
Stockland’s senior development manager commercial property Adam Renai took paid parental leave after his second child, Jack was born and is about to take another set of leave for his third child Hugo.
“With Jack, I was probably on leave for a six or seven-week period and it was primarily to help my wife settle into her role and to focus on that without having the burden of worrying about the kids,” he said.
“You can talk the talk on equality but having the support from your business to walk the walk is amazing.
“If you’re not flexible as an employer, your talent will go elsewhere.”
I went to Drake’s exclusive party. Here’s what it was really like
Drake’s team hand-pick only women for his parties, and receiving an invite feels like winning the golden ticket. But that’s only the start of a rollercoaster that can end in the night of your life or heartbreak.
The Sunday Quiz: Who created Dame Edna Everage?
Where was the Great Emu War? Which planet is closest to the sun? What year did Shane Warne die? Put your knowledge of trivia to the test with The Sunday Quiz.