Aussie organisations now hand-cuffed to transparency

In 2025, Australian employers will be under a spotlight as the national standard for workplace transparency continues to rise.

Calls for increased workplace transparency have grown louder over recent years – and much to the satisfaction of workers across the country, those calls have been answered. In 2025, Aussie employers with over 100 employees will be under a microscope, with key insights of their company being laid bare to potential job candidates and current employees.

Employment platform WORK180 has claimed that this added transparency among Australian organisations will prove to be a critical moment – building off the momentum created by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and its release of the Australian private and public sector’s employer gender pay gaps.

“With the inclusion of additional information, such as CEO salaries, in this year’s government-mandated pay gap reports, employers are facing increasing disclosure requirements,” said Gemma Lloyd, chief executive of WORK180.

“At the same time, jobseeker expectations are shifting. Over the past year, we’ve seen a 50 per cent increase in users on our platform, highlighting the growing demand for transparency from potential employers.”

Jobseekers and employees will be able to view the following criteria of an organisation:

• Paid parental leave policies
• Gender equity
• Flexible working arrangements
• Women in leadership representation
• Progressive policies and support

“Transparency is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s non-negotiable. Women don’t have to rely on company claims and public promises anymore. By expanding to include the data of all employers beyond those we actively support as endorsed employers, women can now easily access the information they need to make informed career decisions,” said Llyod.

The cultural shift from talking about it to being about it has directly affected Australian organisations, handcuffing them to implementing true policies and strategies that will work to both recruit and retain workers – especially women.

On 4 March 2025, about 9,200 private sector employers will have their 2023–24 gender pay gaps displayed and published on the agency’s website. This data will include a more detailed view of the state of gender equality in the private sector – with CEO remuneration being included in employer gender pay gap calculations.

“In Australia, we have a strong sense of fairness and the right to a fair go, but a national gender pay gap of 21.8 per cent means women earn, on average, just 78¢ for every $1 men earn,” said WGEA chief executive officer Mary Wooldridge.

“Employers are in a unique position to take action to create environments where all people are fairly represented and equally valued and rewarded in the workplace,” said Woolridge.

As the talent market continues to be a hot contest between employers, being open to this transparency by embracing it could give organisations the edge in recruitment.