Libby Lyons

TAL, a leading Australian life insurance specialist, has been recognised as one of Australia’s leading promoters of workplace equality after being named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the fifth consecutive year.

The citation is awarded by the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to organisations that meet rigorous standards in workplace gender equality and demonstrate active commitment to achieving gender equality.

TAL was one of 140 organisations Australia-wide to receive the citation.

TAL Group CEO & Managing Director, Brett Clark, said he is very proud of the work TAL has done to close the gender pay gap for all roles and reward all staff equally, according to the work they do.

“We are delighted to have received this recognition of TAL’s ongoing efforts to create a fair and equitable workplace for the fifth year in a row,” Mr Clark said.

“TAL has an ongoing commitment to workplace pay equity and gender equality. It is a key part of our strategy, culture and values, and we watch and monitor it closely.”

As part of TAL’s ongoing focus on gender equity and his personal commitment to pay equity, Mr Clark became a Pay Equity Ambassador in 2015.

Some of the key ways TAL supports gender equality include:

• Continue to have employment policies that are inclusive of everyone, regardless of gender
• Providing flexible working options to give everyone the choice they need to live their best life and do their best work
• Making sure there is no gender bias in TAL’s annual remuneration review
• Round table sessions for TAL people to discuss gender topics with senior leaders
• Actively working to attract more female applications to roles at TAL through advertising channels such as Work180
• Zero tolerance of gender-based harassment and discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying
• Parental leave benefits and support for males and females, including continued paid superannuation and staff group insurance coverage for the first 12 months, and guaranteed flexible working options for the first 6 months after returning to work.

These programs ensure all staff are treated equally, can perform their roles to the best of their ability and have the same opportunities for personal growth and advancement.

WGEA Director, Libby Lyons, said of the citation holders: “What unites them is their determination and commitment to achieving workplace gender equality.

“I congratulate all of these organisations for being agents of change, leading the way forward for other Australian employers to follow.”

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Libby Lyons

For the fourth year running, Australia’s leading life insurer, TAL, has been awarded an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality Citation for its longstanding commitment to gender equality in the workplace.

The citation is awarded by the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to organisations that meet rigorous standards in workplace gender equality.

TAL was the only Australian life insurer to be accredited and one of only 120 organisations Australia-wide to receive the citation.

TAL Group CEO & Managing Director, Brett Clark, said the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality Citation is fantastic recognition of TAL’s ongoing efforts to create a fair and equitable workplace.

“TAL is proud to be recognised by WGEA and to be leading the way in gender equality, including achieving pay parity for all roles,” Mr Clark said.

“TAL has an ongoing commitment to workplace pay equity and gender equality. It is a key part of our strategy, culture and values, and we watch and monitor it closely.”

Some of the initiatives TAL has in place that support gender equality include:

• Equal employment policies and training for all TAL people
• Flexible working options available
• Annual pay gap analysis undertaken to ensure pay parity
• Maintained focus on gender equality through an active employee action group
• Domestic violence leave, training and support available
• Parental leave benefits and support for males and females, including continued paid superannuation and staff group insurance coverage for the first 12 months, and guaranteed flexible working options for the first 6 months after returning to work
• Career development programs specifically aimed at advancing talented female employees.

These programs ensure all staff are treated equally, can perform their roles to the best of their ability and have the same opportunities for personal growth and advancement.

WGEA Director, Libby Lyons, said, “This year, I am particularly delighted to see some of the innovative and exciting initiatives by our EOCGE citation holders on such issues as flexibility, paid parental leave, supporting women in leadership and addressing gender pay gaps.

“I congratulate all the 2017-18 citation holders for their commitment and recognition of benefits improved gender equality can bring to their business. These employers are setting the benchmark for other Australian workplaces to follow.”

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Dianne Charman

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA)’s powerhouse for women in financial advice, AFA Inspire, is calling on the financial services industry to #BeBoldForChange, in support of International Women’s Day (IWD), with a series of events to be held across Australia.

Celebrated globally on 8 March, IWD is committed to driving change for women, helping them to move closer to gender parity and encouraging the creation of more inclusive cultures.

AFA Inspire Chair, Dianne Charman, said the AFA Inspire #BeBoldForChange events in support of IWD represent an important opportunity to be a part of a global community striving for change. “Research has shown that closing the gender parity gap could take 170 years – we have to do better than that and as an international community, we can,” she said. “I encourage everyone who attends one of AFA Inspire’s nationwide events to take a moment to pause, look around the room and realize they are part of something bigger and that together with others around the world, they really can make a difference.”

Ms Charman also said the financial advice community can play a crucial role in improving outcomes for women. “AFA Inspire has dual objectives – to encourage more women to become advisers and, more broadly, to encourage women to be more involved in their financial future,” she said. “If we can meet these two objectives, it will help us address the retirement gap. Closing the retirement gap is critical for all Australians, particularly women who generally have lower superannuation account balances than men, and the financial advice community has the expertise and experience to do it.”

The AFA Inspire #BeBoldForChange events will kick off in Melbourne on the eve of IWD on 7 March with special guest speaker, Sadhana Smiles, CEO of Harcourts Group Victoria.

Breakfast events will be held on the morning of IWD in both Perth and Adelaide, with the Perth event hosting self-made international business woman, Marnie LeFevre. Adelaide will host two prominent South Australian businesswomen – Genevieve Theseira-Haese, Lady Mayoress of Adelaide and gold medal paralympian, Katrina Webb.

Sydney, Hobart and Brisbane will all host lunch events, with the Sydney event featuring a panel of leading Australians, including Libby Lyons – Director, Workplace Gender Equality Agency; Kerry Chikarovski – Government Relations and Former NSW Opposition Leader; Philippa Sheehan – Managing Director, My Planner Australia; Brad Fox – AFA CEO; Jonathan Hoyle – Stanford Brown CEO and Julia Newbould – Senior Marketing Specialist, Customer Communications & Stella Network Lead at BT. Aleks Vickovich, Managing Editor, Wealth and Innovation at Momentum Media will facilitate the session.

Two special guests will speak at the Hobart event – Gill Berriman, an advocate for transformational leadership at all levels of the educational system and Bernadette Black, CEO and Founding Director of Brave Foundation and Telstra’s 2016 Tasmanian Business Women of the Year. Dr Jane Thomason, CEO of Abt Associates (Australia) will be special guest at the Brisbane IWD lunch.

Register for AFA Inspire’s IWD events.

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Brett Clark

Australia’s largest life insurer, TAL has once again been formally recognised for its longstanding efforts to achieve gender equality in the workplace. TAL was yesterday awarded an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality Citation by the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for the third year in a row.

The citation is awarded to organisations that meet rigorous standards in workplace gender equality and demonstrate active commitment to achieving gender equality.

TAL Group CEO & Managing Director, Brett Clark, said the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality Citation is
fantastic recognition of TAL’s ongoing efforts to create and maintain a fair and equitable workplace.

“TAL is proud to be recognised by WGEA for our commitment to achieving gender equality, including closing the
pay gap for all roles,” Mr Clark said.

“TAL has an ongoing commitment to workplace pay equity and gender equality. It is a key part of our business
strategy, and we continue to monitor it closely as part of our day-to-day operations.”

Some of the initiatives TAL has in place to support gender equality include:

• Closing the pay gender gap to almost 100% equal pay across the organisation
• Flexible working
• Coaching for female employees
• Maternity and paternity support
• Paid superannuation on parental leave for the first 12 months for men and women
• A working mums program and working dads program
• Management training on unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.

These programs ensure all staff are treated equally, can perform their roles to the best of their ability and have
the same opportunities for personal growth and advancement.

TAL’s recent internal Diversity & Inclusion Survey results show that 60% of staff work flexibly and 80% feel they
have the flexibility they need to manage their work and caring responsibilities.

WGEA Director, Libby Lyons, said: “I congratulate all the 2016 citation holders for their commitment and
recognition of the strong business case for gender equality. I hope to see continued growth in this community of
leading practice employers.”

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