(10 March 2008 – Australia) The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has released a list of 99 organisations that are employers of choice for women in 2008, including 16 from the financial services sector.The list includes each of the Big Four banks, and sees a new entrant in the Australia Securities Exchange joining the list this year.
The EOWA said that the organisations on this list are working hard to fully utilise their female workforce, particularly with six new criteria in place.
Anna McPhee, director of EOWA, said that these businesses have moved beyond simply writing policies and providing basic flexibility.
She said that they have also created equity by changing culture, changing expectations, breaking down the outdated myths about women and valuing the contribution women make to the workplace.
The average pay gap in 2008 EOWA Employer of Choice for Women organisations is 10 percent, which is 7 percent lower than the national average.
The EOWA highlighted ANZ for having an outstanding initiative in parental leave and parental leave assistance including offering parental leave to all permanent full-time and part-time employees, irrespective of length of service.
The list for Financial Services companies is as follows:
– American Express Australia
– AMP
– ANZ
– Australian Securities Exchange
– Citi
– Commonwealth Bank of Australia
– Credit Union Australia
– Goldman Sachs JBWere Services
– IAG
– JP Morgan Administrative Services
– NAB
– NSW Teachers Credit Union
– Savings & Loans Credit Union
– UBS AG, Australia Branch
– VicSuper
– Westpac