There are now 111 organisations recognised as employers of choice for women by the Federal Government's Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA).

The employers on the list are not necessarily "perfect", says EOWA acting director Mairi Steele, "but they are certainly leading the way".

To be included on the list, employers must:

• offer women a minimum of six weeks' paid maternity leave after 12 months of service;
  
   
• provide the ability for female managers to work part-time;
  
   
• ensure at least 28 per cent (or the industry average) of managers are female; and
  
   
• undertake a pay equity analysis and ensure any gap identified is less than their industry average.

Despite the minimum paid maternity leave requirement of six weeks, the average duration provided by employers on the list is nearly 12 weeks.

In addition, these organisations have an average of 46.7 per cent female managers and the average pay gap is 10.9 per cent (5.1% lower than the national average).

Other initiatives implemented by companies on the list include:

• ANZ's 'global diversity scorecard', which includes stretch targets for female representation at divisional and group levels;
  
   
• Westaff's grandparental leave, for employees who have been with the organisation for three years or more. The leave recognises the motivations of an ageing workforce and provides for one week off at full pay upon the birth of a grandchild;
  
   
• Corrs Chambers Westgarth's 'female talent pipeline', which recognises that women do not position themselves for promotion in the same way as men and are often trying to balance personal and career objectives at a critical time in their career; and
  
   
• Curtin University's practice of ensuring that women have roles as deputies on any committee where a male has the chair.

This year's list includes 23 new organisations, bringing the total number up from 99 in 2008 (some previously listed employers did not apply). 

Press & Media As Seen

Sunrise
Sunday Telegraph
Daily Telegrapgh
Sydney Herald
The Courier Mail
Penrith Star
Take 5
Soap Mag

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