TAL and Zurich lead the way in gender equality with WGEA recognition

TAL and Zurich lead the way in gender equality with WGEA recognition | Insurance Business Australia

Life & Health

TAL and Zurich lead the way in gender equality with WGEA recognition

Companies highlight initiatives promoting gender equality in the workplace

Life & Health

By
Roxanne Libatique

TAL and Zurich Financial Services Australia have been recognised by the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for their commitment to promoting gender equality in the workplace.

The recognition is awarded to organisations that meet voluntary standards set by WGEA and actively work towards achieving gender parity within their workplaces.

Brett Clark, CEO and managing director of TAL, reaffirmed the insurer’s commitment to ensuring equal treatment for all its employees.

“TAL has a deep commitment to ensuring that all TAL employees are treated equally and have the same access to opportunities for personal growth and career advancement,” he said. “Gender equality, and equality overall, is central to what it means to work at TAL, and the WGEA citation is a reflection of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.”

TAL’s gender equality initiatives

The citation highlights several of TAL’s initiatives, such as ensuring pay equity, closing the gender pay gap, and promoting women into leadership roles.

The insurer said it has set a goal of achieving a leadership composition of 40% men, 40% women, and 20% individuals of any gender. It also offers equal employment policies and training, flexible working arrangements, a Female Leaders Sponsorship Program, and support for employees experiencing domestic violence.

Additionally, TAL provides accessible parental leave benefits, including continued paid superannuation and group insurance coverage, regardless of gender. It also focuses on monitoring and reporting gender equity indicators.

Commenting on the recognition, Zurich CEO Justin Delaney highlighted the insurance giant’s initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality in the workplace.

“Zurich has a long-standing and deep commitment to gender equality, and we are honoured to join the select group of organisations recognised through this important citation,” he said. “In recent years, Zurich has introduced several initiatives to support and promote gender equality including talent and succession programs, flexible working policies, remuneration targets and employee training. Zurich regularly tracks and reports on relevant metrics to support and inform progress in this space.”

WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge noted that the citation recognises employers’ efforts to address the underlying causes of gender inequality in the workplace.

“The actions of these employers provide an example to others who may be wondering how they can start to address the systemic issues that limit both men and women from reaching their potential at work,” she said.

Both TAL and Zurich have set ambitious targets for improving gender representation in senior leadership positions. The latter aims to achieve a composition of 40% women, 40% men, and 20% individuals of any gender in leadership roles by the end of 2026.