AFL wins recognition as an employer that values gender equity

Diversity and inclusion training, pay equity and respectful relationships policies have helped the AFL gain recognition as an employer that values gender equity.

Diversity and inclusion training, pay equity and respectful relationships policies have helped the AFL gain recognition as an employer that values gender equity.

For the first time the AFL has been listed as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency employer of choice – a first for a national sporting body.

The recognition is only granted to workplaces who make an active commitment to achieving gender equity.

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The prestigious citation comes amid questions about the pay gap between male and female professional sports players raised by the Male Champions of Change group, which includes AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan as a member.

Despite this, the AFL has been rewarded for having 40 per cent women on its executive, improved numbers of women at all levels and ongoing sexual harassment awareness training.

To meet the standards required for the listing, organisations must have strategies on gender equity, pay equity, generous family leave and flexible working practices. Men must also be actively encouraged to take parental leave. The workplace must also have undertaken a gender remuneration gap analysis in the past two years.

WGEA director Libby Lyons today revealed the 141 national organisations which have met these gender equality benchmarks. There are 26 first-time recipients.

“More organisations are introducing strategies and policies to ensure women and men are equally valued and rewarded in their workplaces. Gender equality has become an important focus for Australian employers,” Ms Lyons said.

“However, we also know that policies and strategies cannot just live on paper. They have to be implemented. Targets need to be set, outcomes monitored and managers, executives and boards made accountable for the results.”

Other recipients include MLC Life Insurance, Mercy Health, Unilever, Telstra, L’Oreal, GM Holden and Deakin University.

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