Record number of Aussie companies get tick of approval for equality policies

A RECORD number of Australian companies have been recognised as female and parent-friendly, including many once-blokey industries.

A RECORD 120 Australian companies have been given the tick of approval as gender-friendly workplaces.

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The Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s 2017-18 Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citations were awarded to many companies traditionally dominated by men, including in resources, construction and transport.

Employers were rated for policies in areas including women in leadership, flexible work and parental leave for both genders. Positive trends included more workplaces “entrenching organisation-wide flexible work”, programs to boost numbers of women in senior roles and parental leave policies that supported fathers.

The most gender-equal companies also ran initiatives to attract women to male-dominated roles and analysed and corrected gender pay gaps.

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Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Libby Lyons. Picture: Richard Jupe

PwC’s Simon Doukas has been taking his 18 weeks’ parental leave — the same as the firm offers mothers — across the year, starting with three weeks’ leave when baby Amelia was born last February.

He has been caring for Amelia since December, when his wife returned to part-time work, and when he returns to work shortly Mr Doukas will take each Monday off for the next three months.

“My wife transtioned back to part-time work from the start of January, so I’ve been the primary carer since and that’s been an awesome experience,” said Mr Doukas, who works as a consultant in PwC’s digital business.

Simon Doukas and his daughter, Amelia.

“You know it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity … It’s incredibly important, it’s such a short period that goes so fast.”

Employers cited for their gender-friendly policies included many in traditionally “blokey” industries such as energy and resources (BP, Caltex, Viva Energy Australia and Alcoa), cars and transport (GM Holden, Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific and Transurban) and construction (Mirvac and Lendlease).

Financial institutions including Bankwest, Westpac, National Australia Bank, ANZ, the Commonwealth Bank, TAL and AMP made the grade, along with Tabcorp and the ASX

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