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Twelve angling (for) women
Glass ceilings, slippery ladders, boys' clubs and fraternities are finally being eradicated in an elite list of law firms, the government announced today.
Kate Gibbs
GLASS ceilings, slippery ladders, boys’ clubs and fraternities are finally being eradicated in an elite list of law firms, the government announced today.
The federal Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) today listed 12 law firms with offices in Australia as demonstrating they have policies and practices supporting women across their organisations. Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Baker & McKenzie, Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson, Cooper Grace Ward, Freehills, Holding Redlich, Gilbert + Tobin, Maddocks, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, McCullough Robertson and Sparke Helmore have each been recognised on the list. The law firms were ranked among 95 total organisations on the government’s employer of choice for women list today. “By applying for and receiving this citation, these organisations are not only meeting the pre-requisites and criteria, but are publicly declaring their commitment to making their workplaces equitable,” EOWA acting director Mairi Steele said. “They know they are not perfect, but they are working hard to make their organisations good places for women to work.” The general message, however, was that while fraternities may be weakening, there is still a way to go. “Women still earn less than men, women are still sadly absent from many key decision making roles in business, women are still sexually harassed and bullied in the workplace and women are still discriminated against based on old fashioned stereotypes and work practices,” Steele said. Corrs partner and chief executive officer, John Denton, said he believes recognition by EOWA is an important endorsement of the firm’s continuing efforts to create an inspiring workplace for all staff. While no current and comparative statistics were available as The New Lawyer went to press today, at Corrs 38 per cent of its board and 35 per cent of the partners and senior managers are women. The firm said that just over 17 per cent of its workforce is part-time (including 16 men); 74 per cent of its workforce takes advantage of some form of flexible working practice or remote working tool; and the majority of scholarships and post-graduate study opportunities are granted to women. Today’s citation is awarded only to organisations with more than 100 employees in the non-government sector.
