The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has again been named among the country’s top workplaces in The Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Best Places to Work list. 

The complaints authority was on the list last year and ranks first this year among government, education, non-profit and utilities organisations. 

The listing recognises the authority’s efforts to increase workplace flexibility while handling a 23% uptick in registered complaints. 

It is credited for introducing initiatives that let workers to use public holidays on any day, reducing in-office hours and extending paid leave for IVF treatments, surrogacy and transgender employees.   

The list also notes the authority’s gender pay gap is only 3.5%, well below averages for the financial services industry, and its increase in paid parental leave from 18 weeks to 20 weeks.   

Authority Chief Ombudsman and CEO David Locke says the award recognises continuing steps to build a “special culture”. 

“We want to ensure that every person who works [here] feels able to bring their whole selves – their best selves – to the important and impactful work they do helping consumers and financial firms resolve disputes,” he said. 

“We want a culture where everyone feels valued and supported and we continued to invest in that last year with initiatives like our new diversity, inclusion and belonging strategy, and significant enhancements to leave entitlements.”  

In the authority’s staff survey last October, 91% of employees said it was a “truly a great place to work” and 93% believed the organisation was committed to employee wellbeing.