Employers that are serious about improving gender diversity should implement a "no just joking" policy to eliminate low-level sexism at work, a new report recommends.
Comparing diversity at the top of an organisation with the bottom can highlight that an employer's culture is not an inclusive one, says the head of Deloitte's national diversity and inclusion practice.
Three distinct barriers are holding back progress in diversity initiatives in Australia, but HR professionals can take steps to break them down, according to Mercer's head of leadership, diversity and learning solutions for Asia Pacific, Alison Tickner.
Managers should be discouraged from seeking details about individual workers' disabilities and instead be focused solely on the reasonable adjustments needed to accommodate them, say HR leaders.
The evidence is "unequivocal" that setting targets for senior leaders on recruitment and retention of women will help improve gender diversity at work, according to a Gender Equality Project report released yesterday.
Workers from non-English speaking countries are often extremely talented with great work ethics, but many employers mistakenly let language and cultural differences prevent them becoming valued employees, says Performance Education CEO Owen Firth.
The needs of mature-age employees are similar to those of many new parents or pregnant women in the workplace, according to a consultant for National Australia Bank, who recommends focussing on flexibility and recognition to accommodate older workers.
Taking steps to ensure mature-aged workers pass on important knowledge and skills before they retire is well worth the effort, but many employers are doing "too little too late", says Sageco creative director Catriona Byrne.
A proponent of an award-winning gender diversity initiative says that if she had her time again, she would have been bolder when implementing change, foregoing her initial "softly, softly" approach.
The time for talking about gender equality and waiting for people to "get it" is over - real action is needed now, according to Helen Conway, director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA).
