Financial and insurance services get the picture on gender equality

There were five first time recipients of the WGEA (Workplace Gender Equality Agency) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citations in the financial and insurance services industry for 2018-19, including MLC Life, TelstraSuper and Vanguard Australia. The citation recognises employer commitment and best practice in promoting gender equality in Australian workplaces. Overall there were a record 141 organisations that received the citation this year, 27 of which were in the financial and insurance services industry.

"Our EOCGE citation does not signify that these employers have solved all of their gender equality issues. Rather, it recognises that they have embraced a rigorous and detailed programme to transform their workplaces. These leading employers know the importance of achieving gender equality for their employees and for their business and are implementing leading-practice measures to do so," WGEA director Libby Lyons said.

MLC Life Insurance was a first time recipient of the citation. MLC Life Insurance chief executive officer, David Hackett, said being named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality was a significant achievement and demonstrated the organisation's commitment to gender equality and inclusion. Initiatives the company has implemented to this end include: fostering a culture of flexible working options; training and policies for all employees; having a domestic violence policy and support initiatives; and running an annual pay gap analysis.

Other first time recipients in financial services included Toyota Finance Australia and Cuscal.

"We're committed to ensuring gender does not affect an employee's experience at TelstraSuper and our Diversity and Inclusion Commitment hold us very accountable for this," TelstraSuper CEO Chris Davies said.

These leading employers know the importance of achieving gender equality for their employees and for their business and are implementing leading-practice measures to do so.

First State Super received the citation for the third consecutive year. Over the past 12 months, the $91 billion super fund says it has been working on removing potential gender barriers from its recruitment practices.

"We have developed a diversity and inclusion pack for our recruitment partners and all of our hiring managers have undertaken unconscious bias training, to ensure that we attract and recruit the best and most diverse team to support our members," First State CEO Deanne Stewart said.