Latest news with #MaryWooldridge
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Releasing public sector pay gaps increases accountability, says WGEA CEO
Workplace Gender Equality Authority chief executive Mary Wooldridge says the new data places a spotlight on public sector employers and enhances transparency and accountability, which is a catalyst for further action. #ABCBusiness
The Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
WGEA: PS women earn $8200 a year less than men
Women in the public sector earn on average $8200 a year less than men, according to landmark analysis of public sector pay gaps by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. The WGEA's examination of 120 public sector employers and two corporate groups found that more than half had reduced their gender pay gap in the past 12 months. According to the WGEA data, the median total remuneration gender pay gap was 11.3 per cent at the CSIRO; 9.8 per cent at the ABC; 8.6 per cent at Australia Post; and 4.8 per cent at the Australian Taxation Office. The median gap at the Australian Federal Police was 12.2 per cent; 11.5 per cent at the Reserve Bank; 1.9 per cent at SBS; and 1.3 per cent at NBN Co. About 50 per cent of public sector employers have a gender gap below 4.8 per cent, a point known as the employer gender pay gap mid-point. The private sector mid-point is 8.9 per cent. Across all employees in the public sector, the average total remuneration gender pay gap is 6.4 per cent, compared to 21.1 per cent in the private sector. WGEA chief executive Mary Wooldridge said nearly half of the employers in the sector still had a gender pay gap in favour of men, and while they were often smaller than the private sector, as evidenced by the 4.8 per cent mid-point gap, 'this does nevertheless show that work still needs to be done to improve gender balance in both pay and composition'. Ms Wooldridge pointed to payments above base salary, which the report showed was a key contributor to the gender pay gap. The value of payments above base salary including overtime, performance bonuses and superannuation added $5373, or 3.6 per cent, to the gender pay gap, indicating they offered more financial reward to men than women. 'Releasing public sector gender pay gaps for the first time today places a spotlight on these employers, like it has done in the private sector. This enhanced transparency and accountability is a catalyst for further action,' Ms Wooldridge said. She said the results pointed to how progress can be achieved when employers use long-term and deliberate actions that address gender equality. 'The commonwealth public sector has achieved gender balance in the composition of the workforce, at managerial level and in the upper quartile of remuneration,' she said. 'This is a critical driver of the lower gender pay gaps reported today. The results also show that employers are taking action to improve equality in their workplaces.' Nation CCTV of Erin Patterson's 9-second bathroom break a day after hosting the fatal mushroom lunch has been shown to the jury in her triple-murder trial. Nation Premier Chris Minns has issued a scathing statement as hundreds of commuters were left stranded after a power outage brought the city's train network to a grinding halt.
SBS Australia
20-05-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
The public sector gender pay gap data has been revealed. Here's what to know
Gender pay gaps at Australia's biggest public sector employers have been revealed for the first time, showing lower gaps compared to the private sector. However, men account for just 11 per cent of all primary carers leave taken and 49 per cent of employers still have a gender pay gap in favour of men. Well-known employers such as Australia Post, the Australian Tax Office, Reserve Bank, CSIRO and dozens of federal government departments have had their pay gaps published. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency was able to publish the data after law changes in 2023, with private sector gaps published earlier in 2025. Half of Commonwealth public sector employers have a median total remuneration gender pay gap lower than 4.8 per cent, compared to 8.9 per cent in the private sector. Nearly half have a median total remuneration gender pay gap in the target range of within +/-5 per cent, compared to 31 per cent in the private sector. More than half of employers improved their median total remuneration gender pay gap in the past 12 months. When compared to the private sector, women and men have more balanced representation in the upper pay areas of the Commonwealth public sector. Women also comprise 47 per cent of the highest-paid positions. The results showed how progress could be achieved when employers used long-term and deliberate actions that addressed gender equality, agency chief executive Mary Wooldridge said. "Pleasingly we have also seen large rises in the number of employers conducting a gender pay gap analysis, acting on the results and consulting with employees to understand their experience at work," she said. Although progress had been made, Wooldridge said there was still work to do to improve gender equality. "Workplace gender equality benefits everyone, so it is important that barriers for men are also addressed," she said. She said public sector employers needed to "ensure more men have confidence to take primary carer's leave", urging them to "drive cultural change that removes real or perceived penalties for taking time out for caring roles".
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
New data reveals men earn more than women in public sector but gender pay gap narrower than private employers
A bombshell report on Australia's public sector has exposed a shocking gap between how much men are earning compared to women. The report, released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), shows men earn on average $8200 more than women who work across Commonwealth government agencies, departments and businesses. For every $1 a man earned, a woman made 94 cents. The report found 45 per cent of public sector employers have a median pay gap within five per cent of the target range, compared to 31 per cent of private sector employers. A similar report released in March found men earned on average$28,425 more than women in the private sector. Public sector employers include Australia Post, the ABC, SBS, Australian Federal Police, NBN, Reserve Bank, CSIRO, Snowy Hydro, Red Energy as well as Federal Government departments and agencies. Half of public sector employers have a median total remuneration gender pay gap lower than 4.8 per cent, compared to 8.9 per cent in the private sector. WGEA chief executive officer Mary Wooldridge said the results showed progress could be achieved when employers addressed gender equality. 'The Commonwealth public sector has achieved gender-balance in the composition of the workforce, at managerial level and in the upper quartile of remuneration,' she said. 'This is a critical driver of the lower gender pay gaps reported today.' Ms Wooldridge said the results also showed employers were taking action to improve equality in their workplaces, with 51 per cent of employers improving their median total remuneration gender pay gap in the past year. 'Pleasingly we have also seen large rises in the number of employers conducting a gender pay gap analysis, acting on the results and consulting with employees to understand their experience at work,' she said. 'These actions are crucial steps to help employers gain greater understanding of the drivers of their individual gender pay gaps and to implement relevant and evidence-informed actions to address them.' Ms Wooldridge said while progress had been made there were some areas that needed improvement with only 11 per cent of men accounting for all carers leave taken, and 49 per cent of employers having a gender pay gap that favoured men. 'Workplace gender equality benefits everyone, so it is important that barriers for men are also addressed,' Ms Wooldridge said. 'With changes in access to parental leave now enacted, Commonwealth public sector employers need to work deliberately and strategically to drive cultural change that removes real or perceived penalties for taking time out for caring roles and ensure more men have confidence to take primary carer's leave.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major change for group of Aussie workers
Large businesses in Australia will undergo a major change to address workplace gender equality after a bill passed parliament on Tuesday. Recent data published by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) found the total remuneration average gender pay gap in Australia was a difference of $28,425 over the course of one year. A review of the Workplace Gender Equality Act identified target-setting was an effective way to improve gender equality in the workplace. Organisations that employ more than 500 people in Australia are now required to implement three gender equality targets into the workplace, and will have three years to achieve or make progress on their targets. Employers can choose which targets they select from a menu, with priority areas covering the gender pay gap, workforce and board composition, support for carers and parents, consultation and prevention of sexual harassment. The changes will apply to nearly 2000 employers and benefit an estimated 3.9 million employees. WGEA found 56 per cent of employers covered by these reforms already had gender equality targets, and about one-third had set three or more targets which met the new requirements. Employers who fail to meet the new requirements risk losing Commonwealth contracts, and will be named and shamed by the agency. WGEA chief executive officer Mary Wooldridge said the new requirement was introduced to accelerate employer actions to ensure all employees were equally valued, rewarded and safe at work. 'While many employers are making great progress on gender equality, there is also a large group of employers who are not,' she said. 'Employers indicate that even when they are aware they have a significant gender pay gap, many haven't taken action to reduce it. 'Targets are specific, time-bound and measurable objectives that set a benchmark for employers to work towards. The evidence available shows they are effective in driving real change. 'By introducing a target setting requirement, Australia is ensuring large employers are publicly accountable to take action and make demonstrable progress towards gender equality.'
