Major insurers Allianz and Suncorp have been awarded Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation in recognition of their efforts to promote workplace equality and provision of family-friendly policies.

Helia – formerly Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia – has also achieved the citation issued by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), as have the Bank of Queensland, which offers home and contents, landlord and car insurance.

The WGEA citation recognises, encourages and promotes organisations with an active commitment to workplace gender equality. WGEA accepts new applications for the voluntary leading practice program each year and successful organisations will hold the citation for two years.

WGEA says employers with a certification have an average pay gap of 17.4%, which is 26% lower than non-certified ones; more women on governing bodies; longer periods of employer-funded parental leave for primary carers; and more male managers taking primary carer’s leave.

“Through the application process, CEOs told us that being an employer of choice continues to expose their blind spots, that it’s a good framework that challenges and drives them to continually improve and keeps them focussed on their gender equality objectives,” WGEA Director Mary Wooldridge said.