News & Views

WGEA report that the national gender pay gap according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics is 11.5%. This is down from 12% in February 2024, and an now at its lowest point since 2014.

As of May 2024, the full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings across all industries and occupations was $2014.3 for men and $1782.8 for women.

While WGEA's pay gap calculations are slightly different to the ABS, (due to the sampling), the downward trend remains the same.

See the WGEA report HERE.

Without wanting to get into a political argument, the request from NSW Premier Chris Minns for Public Servants to return to the office will no doubt rekindle the Working from Home (WFH) debate.

Flexible Working options have been available in law firms for many years, and while amplified during COVID, an article on the subject from HR Leader says that it is clear that "hybrid work is a win-win-win for employee productivity, performance, and retention.

Others will argue that we need the social interactivity of being in the office.

One thing is sure is that this many open the can to many organisations reviewing their flexibily approach.

See the article from HR Leader HERE.

In contrast to the above story, HR Leader reported in July that a study by International Workplace Group (which featured 500 chief executives as respondents) found their fondness of a hybrid working schedule. Nine in 10 are working it themselves, and they strongly believe that it’s led to an improvement in both productivity (75 per cent) and staff retention (76 per cent). 

Apart from the financial benefits, the study suggested that nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) believe they would lose their talented workers if they insisted on their employees being present in a central office every day.

Read the story HERE

The World Meteorological Organisation reported that last month saw another extreme weather milestone with the world’s hottest day on recent record registered on 22 July – yet another indication of the extent to which greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are changing our climate.

This gives rise to a Call to Action on extreme heat - not just by limiting our GHG emissions, but dealing with the side effects of that, including caring for the vulnerable, protecting workers and boosting resilience of economies, who see a reduction in cultivation of food and an increase in poverty, as a result of extreme heat.

See the UN article HERE.

In a recent report, Diversity Council Australia (DCA) found that people with disabilities are facing alarming levels of exclusion at work, causing many to avoid sharing their disability status with their employer. according to a report released today by Diversity Council Australia (DCA) in collaboration with Australian Disability Network.

The report, 'Disability Data at Work', released by DCA in collaboration with the Australian Disability Network, highlights the critical role of capturing disability data in cultivating inclusive workplaces where all employees can thrive.

The report sheds light on the workplace experiences of people with disability and outlines essential strategies for fostering workplace environments where employees feel safe to disclose their disability without fear of repercussions.

See the news article from DCA HERE 

ASIC’s first greenwashing case brought before the Federal Court recently resulted in severe penalties against a financial services company for making misleading statements about sustainable investment options. This was a landmark case both for ASIC and for the financial services industry and demonstrates the importance of making accurate ESG claims to investors and potential investors.

See ASIC's media release HERE

In what appears to be a backflip, SBTi have revised their position on the use of offsets for the abatement of Scope 3 emissions and have stated that the use of offsets (Energy Abatement Certificates) "will be informed by evidence" as they continue to research the issue.

Consequently, SBTi has decided to extend their use for the purpose of abatement of Scope 3 related emissions beyond the current limits.

See their statement about this HERE

In an article from ESG Today, they note that in a report released by the Boston Consulting Group and CDP, that most companies and investors are not yet measuring and targeting reductions in Scope 3 value chain emissions.  

While Scope 3 emissions are probably the most difficult emissions to measure and manage, their omission  can lead to significant unreported risks for companies and investors, and overlooked material supply chain risks that can adversely impact corporate performance.

Read the article from ESG Today HERE

The University of Technology Sydney Jumbunna Institute/Business School and Diversity Council Australia are set to partner on new Gari Yala (meaning ‘speak the truth’ in the Wiradjuri language) report.

Funded by the NAB Foundation, The First Nations-led research will reveal more about the experiences of Indigenous Australians at work and provide recommendations to create workplaces where Indigenous people can thrive.

In 2020 the first Gari Yala report revealed the racism and lack of cultural safety experienced by Indigenous people across Australian workplaces. The new research is set to detail the lived experience of First Nations Australians at work and the improvements required to create workplaces free of racism, discrimination and bias.

Read about Gari Yala HERE.

In an online Webcast hosted by HR Leader and Momentum Media, Robert Goodwin, chief operating officer at Employment Hero, will talk about how to better support your team and their wellness at work.

Join Robert on Wednesday, 7 August, for an in-depth dive into the 2024 Wellness at Work report. He’ll chat through the key areas affecting employees this year, as well as some actionable strategies HR leaders can implement to foster wellness in the workplace this year and beyond.

CLICK HERE to register