Ever feel like you spend your life at work? You’re not far off. The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. That’s 10 whole years all up.
Combine that with the fact that female employment rates are at a historic high – 60.5 per cent to be exact – it’s essential to find a supportive, inspiring and fair work environment.
Many Australian companies are choosing to go above and beyond for their employees, promoting inclusive working cultures that provide flexible hours, substantial maternity leave and returning-to-work programs for women who have taken a break from the workforce.
Here, five of the best Australian companies to work for in 2019 – one of them is even hiring right now!
AGL
The company is part of one of the most fast-paced and ever-changing industries in Australia, yet AGL has continuously remained dedicated to its 3,700 employees – in particular, its female workers.
This year, LinkedIn ranked the energy giant in the top 25 best companies to work for in Australia, recognising the company’s impressively diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
Where other large Australian corporations are lacking in equal opportunity, AGL is leading by example, with the company’s leadership pipeline consisting of 40 per cent women.
The stats are well above industry standard, but AGL is continuing to push for a higher rate of female leaders in the company, and to achieve this, provide all employees with a Career Development Plan to help staff achieve their short and long term goals.
As for employee benefits, an impressive 20 weeks paid parental leave is provided to the primary carer, along with two weeks paid partner leave at the time of birth. Recognising the day-to-day struggles of many working parents, AGL also provides staff with the option to work flexible hours.
“The best part about flexible working is that I can have it all – I can spend time with my children, maintain a career and still be a part of a sporting team,” notes AGL’s Wholesale Risk Compliance Analyst, Alex Clayton.
Balancing her job with her role as a full-time mum of two and an active AFL career, Clayton loves that she is able to condense her working week and work from home when necessary.
AGL’s leadership pipeline consists of an impressive 40 per cent women. Image: AGL
Salesforce
Taking out the top spot on Great Place To Work‘s Best Workplace in Australia list just last year, Saleforce has cemented itself as culture-driven tech company that is always looking for new recruits.
Founded in the US, the cloud-based software company set up office in Australia back in 2012 and since, has been dedicated to championing Australian women in the tech industry.
In the last four years alone Saleforce has spent an impressive $8.7 million to close the gender pay gap and look to hire women at equal rates to men.
Saleforces’s value for women is equal to its value for family and the company offers employee’s access to its Adoption and Fertility Program, extended parental leave and baby bonus policies.
Continued career growth also a big priority for Saleforce and all employees are given access to mentoring programs, work related education courses and an internal recruitment team dedicated to finding new opportunities for staff within the company.
It’s not a worry if you’re not employed at Saleforce either, the company are hiring all the time!
Aurecon
Recognised as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, Aurecon notes its innovative approach to business as the driver of success and employee satisfaction.
Highly aware of the gender inequality that many women face in the workplace – and that women retire with roughly half the superannuation of men – the engineering and design company pay superannuation to staff on paid parental leave and up to 14 weeks of an employee’s unpaid portion of parental leave.
Aurecon also believe in providing employees with a workspace that fosters innovation and creativity – not a cell divided office with florescent lighting and an uninspiring atmosphere.
Just last year, the company opened its doors to Australia’s tallest and largest engineered timber office, 25 King in Brisbane. With levels of collaborative working spaces, natural light and greenery, the environment is intended to support the health and wellbeing of its employees.
Deloitte
The Australian partnership of Deloitte – the largest professional services network in the world – has been continuously praised for its commitment to its staff and this year, placed eighth on LinkedIn’s list of best companies to work for in Australia.
With a heavy focus on innovative human resources programs, the consultancy firm’s most notable strategy is ‘Inspiring Women‘.
First introduced in 2003, the initiative is a commitment to supporting the development and advancement of talented women in the workplace. Driven by the leadership team of the Australian firm – along with Deloitte Australia’s CEO Cindy Hook – the program has encouraged young female graduates to rise through the ranks into leadership roles.
The company also has a very unique return to work program in place to support individuals who have put their career on hold for family care or personal reasons. Employees who have used the program describe it as the perfect structure to facilitate a balance between work and life.
Within the walls of the offices, Deloitte offers an agile working environment with preventative and supportive mental health initiatives, complimentary breakfast and a lifestyle concierge service for children.
Woolworths
As one of the country’s biggest retailers, the Woolworths group are constantly looking for ways to improve the shopping experience for its customers and the working environment for its employees.
Another high scorer of employee satisfaction according to LinkedIn, the home-grown Australian business is as committed to its operating staff as it is to its corporate.
Currently, over 54 per cent of Woolworth’s workforce is women, and there is an ongoing demand by senior management to push these women into leadership roles.
Rolling out an extensive strategy to be achieved by 2020, Woolworths are striving for gender targeting at least 40 per cent of executive and senior management positions to be held by women.
In order to do this, Woolworths rolled out the Fastrack Program to Management and Leadership, available to operational employees looking to enter a leadership role either in retail stores or in the corporate environment.
Inclusivity and opportunity is the heart of Woolworths’ working culture.
In dedication to this the retailers provide all employees with an Employee Assistance Program, a free confidential, independent counselling service available to workers and their families.
Brought to you by AGL
