ACER named ‘Employer of Choice for Women’

MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release 18 March 2009 ACER named ‘Employer of Choice for Women’ ACER has been awarded Employer of Choice for Women status by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). ACER is one of 111 Australian employers to receive the citation today. ACER was awarded the citation on the basis of its existing policies and practices that were shown to support women across the organisation and have a positive outcome for both women and the business. ACER has demonstrated: provisions to allow female managers to work part-time; a percentage of female managers the same or greater than the industry average; and a pay equity gap less than the industry average. ACER has demonstrated merit-based and transparent recruitment and promotion processes, and it has provided training to all staff about preventing sex-based harassment in the workplace. Some of the initiatives and outcomes that particularly impressed the EOWA include: • No percentage pay gap is evident for ACER as a whole. • Work is allocated so that staff members are not routinely required to undertake work beyond a standard working fortnight and, where possible, meetings are scheduled within business hours. • To encourage staff training and development, ACER provides study assistance, funding for short courses and a special studies program for staff participating in specialist projects. • A ‘Parental Information Kit’ is provided to expectant parents and outlines both entitlements and additional supports available for pregnant women and new parents. • ACER employees are eligible for 14 weeks of paid maternity leave after 12 months’ service. The minimum requirement to be considered for Employer of Choice for Women citation is six weeks paid maternity leave. • When returning from parental leave or extended personal leave, staff members have the option of returning to work part-time. • A ‘Caring for Older Family Members Information Kit’ is provided to assist staff members who are balancing work and family responsibilities. It recognises the significant role played by staff members in caring for older family members. This is the fourth successive year in which ACER has been awarded the Employer of Choice for Women citation. ****************ENDS************* Media enquiries: Louise Reynolds Corporate Publicity and Communications Manager Phone: (03) 9277 5582 Mobile: 0419 340 058 Email: reynolds@acer.edu.au