From now until the end of the year, women are working for free.
And I hate to go all bah humbug on you, but that’s nothing to be merry about this Christmas.
In fact, women have been working for free for a while now. We tend to work 42 days of the year for nada. And that’s thanks to the gender pay gap.
The ABS reports the gender pay gap at 11.5%. That figure is on a downward trend, which suggests things are looking up for women. And that’s thanks to measures like expanded workplace bargaining, banned pay secrecy and the forced publication of pay gaps at every Aussie company with more than 100 employees.
But the fact remains, women are still working for free. And that costs everyone, big time. So what can you do about it?
🏢 If you’re an employer
Conduct a gender pay gap analysis. This handy guide will help you get started.
Download WGEA’s Gender Equality Indicator (GEI) policy and strategy guides.
Create an action plan
Chat to me about how Goldee can support working parents.
Check and challenge any unconscious biases when it comes to hiring and promotion. Walk the talk when it comes to flexible work and family-friendly policies.
Be transparent with pay – even if you have less than 100 employees.
🧍♂️If you’re a male partner to a woman with kids
Do what you can to help ease the mental load (the invisible labour that disproportionately falls on women and keeps them out of the workforce).
Predict upcoming tasks like buying kids’ birthday presents, organising a costume for dress up day, and baking that cake for the fete – and don’t ask for permission, just say you’re on it, and do it.
If you’re a good human – which of course you are!
Be the ultimate hype person for women.
Educate yourself and your network, talk about it, brainstorm, get passionate, share resources, and advocate for pay transparency.
No matter who you are, there’s so much you can do.
Vez
