Maddocks recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality

Maddocks has today been named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace for Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) – marking almost 20 consecutive years of recognising the firm’s ongoing commitment and action to improve diversity outcomes.

The annual citation by the Federal Government agency is designed to encourage and recognise an active commitment to achieving gender equality in all Australian workplaces, by meeting criteria including leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps and flexible working.

First recognised in 2004, Maddocks has been a leader in the legal profession in relation to gender equality. In the past year the firm has reviewed its parental leave policy with an increase to the paid leave component and expanded the flexibility in which the leave can be taken. Additional leave has also been introduced for those undergoing fertility treatment or in the process of adopting or fostering a child. It also moved to pay superannuation on the unpaid component of parental leave up to 52 weeks.

The firm’s first Gender Affirmation Policy was also introduced while the Maddocks Board reset its targets for gender equality to 40/40/20 by 2025. New targets for increasing men taking parental leave and utilising flexible work options also took effect.

Maddocks is one of 129 organisations in Australia to hold a current EOCGE certification.

CEO David Newman said reaching almost two decades as an employer of choice for gender equality was due to the proactive commitment firm-wide to increase career opportunities for everyone.

“We are incredibly proud to have been recognised once again by WGEA. Its program and guidelines have been our benchmarks that we have consistently used over the last two decades to ensure we are making the right decisions to continue to support and advance the careers of women and all of our staff who identify as women.

“The decisions we make and the initiatives we put in place affect how we work as a collective, with each other, and with our clients. They also extend into the legal sector and wider business community. We are eager to continue to drive progress.”

Maddocks Partner and Executive Sponsor of Diversity & Inclusion, Alicia Albury said this year’s citation builds on the firm’s long history of action around diversity and inclusion that is evolving every year.

“Like most organisations, Maddocks’ approach to gender equality started with a compliance focus. Diversity and Inclusion now is a key driver of our business, informing our staff attraction and retention strategies. Similarly, in the 1990s, the Maddocks Women committee was established as a networking group to provide real professional and business development opportunities to women. This year it has been renamed the Maddocks Gender Equality Network, and is open to people of all genders and is committed to gender equality and the advancement of all people in the firm who identify as women.

“Participating in the WGEA employer of choice citation process has helped us to improve workplace inclusion for women, year on year, a commitment which is shared across the partnership.”

About Maddocks

Maddocks is a proudly independent Australian law firm that works closely with corporations, businesses and governments throughout Australia and internationally. We advise national and international clients across infrastructure and development and the education, government, healthcare, and technology sectors from our Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney offices. Our specialist expertise includes dispute resolution and litigation, employment and safety, financial services, franchising and insolvency.

For more information:

Lisa Macnamara
Head of Communications
Tel: 02 9291 6114
[email protected]