IWD2017 VIDEO: women are still being left behind at work

Australian companies are leaving women behind in the workplace due to a lack of programs aimed at actively advancing their careers, a key member of the United Nations’ Women's Empowerment Principles Leadership Group says.

" We need to be better at finding ways to advance career opportunities for women in the workplace.
Freda Miriklis, UN WEP Leadership Group member

Freda Miriklis, a UN WEP Leadership Group member and founding co-chair of the Commonwealth Businesswomen's Network (CBW) told BlueNotes on video the business case for having women in senior management positions was now conclusive.    

“We all know that equality between men and women is not only the right thing, it’s the smart thing to do [for business],” she said.

Miriklis recent statistics from the Global Gender Report showing Australia had fallen 10 places in the world ranking showed while the country is active in trying to fix the issue, it often doesn’t engage in best practice to do so.

“While companies can have the best of [intentions] for their workplaces, quite often we find women can get left behind, and certainly that’s a concern for all of us,” she said.

Miriklis commended strategies on discrimination and harassment but said those needed to work in tandem with active policies.

“[Australia is] very good at having policies that are preventative or protective [of equality],” she said.  “But we don’t really look at different ways of empowering women in the workplace.”

“We need to be better at finding ways to advance career opportunities for women in the workplace.” 

Miriklis also touched on the UN’s Women’s Empowerment Principles. Watch the video above to find out more.

Tammy Medard is Head of Diversified Industrials & Global Subsidiaries Australia at ANZ