02 March 21 - In the News
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has revealed its new WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holders, with three law firms offering their take on the recognition.
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) unveiled its list of 2020-22 WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holders last week, which recognises employers that commit to promoting gender equality in Australian workforces. Seventeen organisations received a two-year citation, adding to the current group of 119 citation holders for the 2019-21 period, with Woolworths Group becoming the first major food retailer to receive the recognition.
Some of the trends pinpointed in this year’s citations include a focus towards entrenching flexible work across the organisation; programs to support women into leadership; tailored parental leave policies to support both women and men; supporting men’s caring responsibilities; and robust analysis and correction of gender pay gaps.
Among the law firms holding a 2019-21 WGEA citation are:
Libby Lyons, director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, said current citation holders should be applauded for their efforts, especially given the difficult past 12 months faced by employers.
“2020 was a very challenging year for all employers. Yet, despite the tremendous upheaval and disruption caused to Australian businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic, these organisations maintained a resolute commitment to achieving their EOCGE citation,” Ms Lyons said.
“I want to sincerely thank and congratulate these employers for their dedication and acknowledge their extraordinary efforts in these trying times. We know that gender equality is good for business and crucial to our post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
“By driving better gender equality outcomes in their workplaces, these EOCGE citation holders are setting a fine example in showing the way forward for other Australian businesses.”
Following the unveiling of this year’s WGEA list, Holding Redlich, Baker McKenzie and Dentons Australia were quick to issue a response. Each is as follows:
Holding Redlich
Speaking on behalf of the firm, managing partner Ian Robertson said, this is the 13th consecutive year that Holding Redlich has received the citation and is a “high-level recognition of the policies and practices in place at the firm that are dedicated to improving diversity and gender equality”.
“We are very pleased that Holding Redlich has again received this important, high-level citation,” Mr Robertson said. “Our firm takes our commitment to having no gender inequality and supporting diversity very seriously.
“I am also particularly pleased that our gender pay equity audit for 2020 revealed that we now have a gender pay gap of 0.13 per cent (in favour of females) for legal employees. This is well below the industry average, which is about 20 per cent in favour of males.”
Baker McKenzie
This year marks the 11th consecutive that Baker McKenzie has been named a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
“We are delighted to once again be recognised with a WGEA citation,” said Baker McKenzie’s national managing partner Anthony Foley in response.
“I am absolutely committed to ensuring our Firm creates equal opportunity for both men and women, whilst preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination. Consistent with this, we have set clear targets for improving gender equality outcomes and we have publicly committed to achieving them.
“Our Australian offices remain deeply committed to achieving the Firm’s global gender targets set at 40:40:20 to represent 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men and 20 per cent flexible (women, men or non-binary persons). These targets apply to partners, senior business professionals, the Firm’s committee leadership and candidate pools for recruitment by 1 July 2025.”
Dentons
The global firm’s WGEA citation marks its second year running, with Dentons’ Australia chair and Australasia region chief executive, Doug Stipanicev, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had given Dentons an opportunity to drive its commitment to gender equality even further.
“There is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but we believe that new challenges can actually lead to more progress,” he said.
“Dentons decided to take the challenges COVID-19 gave us, and use them to enhance the flexible working, career opportunities and learning and development initiatives we already had. These initiatives are beneficial to both women and men, and play a large role in facilitating gender equality within the workplace.
“During the pandemic Dentons made 17 senior lawyer promotions, 10 of which were women. The majority of our Corporate Services leaders are also women. It is both humbling and gratifying to be acknowledged for our commitment to gender equality, and we will continue to act as a gender equality champion for the legal industry.”
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