The Queensland IRC has rejected a claim that the State health deparment's promotion and interview process indirectly discriminated against neurodivergent people because of systemic barriers that prevented them fully participating, but has suggested it provide further training for selection panels.
More than half of respondents to an "ethical bystander" survey witnessed s-xual or gender-based harassment in the previous 12 months, and more than a quarter several times a year, according to Unions NSW's new Ready, Willing, Unable report.
The gender pay gap has narrowed by 0.7 percentage points to 21.1% over the past 12 months, driven by a larger increase in women's average base salary (up $3,419 or 4%) than achieved by men ($2,895 or 2.8%), the annual WGEA Gender Equality Scorecard reveals.
After five decades, the Racial Discrimination Act is due for a review akin to the landmark Jenkins Sex Discrimination Act inquiry, according to a leading academic, while ACTU leader Sally McManus says unions are grappling with how to increase the racial diversity in their leadership.
More women are being appointed to managerial roles but their high resignation rates are undermining gender equality gains, while occupational segregation remains a key driver of inequality, according to a new WGEA report.
Australian women are more likely than men to retire early, citing health concerns, menopause, pay imbalances and caring responsibilities, but many say pay parity and greater flexibility would help them stay in the workforce longer, according to a seven-country survey.
The Federal public sector gender pay gap has more than halved in a year, falling from 13.5% to 6.4%, but employers could still improve on men's uptake of paid parental leave, according to a new WGEA report that includes individual agencies' remuneration disparities for the first time.
The WGEA has published a menu of gender equality targets that employers with 500 or more employees can draw from in preparation for next year's lodgement deadline, along with a "workflow" timeline, selection guidance, and list of frequently asked questions and their answers.
Australia "remains a global laggard" on work/family benefits and the next federal government should extend paid parental leave to 52 weeks, split carers and personal leave into separate 10-day entitlements, and investigate extending personal/carers and annual leave to casual workers, according to an academic group's report.
Only a quarter of scientists who sought assistance from HR after experiencing bullying or intimidation found them supportive, while 39% found HR "useless" and 19% said they "actively made things worse", according to a survey conducted by Griffith University academics.
