Balancing work and family still key issue for women
Many women find themselves forced to trade off wages for more flexible work arrangements. In Post some managers have tried to exclude women from higher duties because they had a workplace flexibility agreement in place. This is wrong. Eligibility for higher duties is not prevented because a person is on flexible working arrangements. The only factor that should be considered is can the person perform the higher duties as per the business requirements.
The need to balance work and family, especially the right to flexible working arrangements, protection against discrimination and coercion to trade off wages for more flexible work is still one of the biggest issues facing women.
At Post an employee who is a parent or carer of a child under school age or under 18 and has a disability, and has a minimum of 12 months continuous service has a legal right to request a change in working arrangements to assist the employee to care for the child.
The process requires the request be in writing. The employer (Post) must respond in writing within 21 days. The request may only be refused on reasonable business grounds and these must be detailed. Contact your CWU branch or CWU national office if you need any help with these issues.
Is it still true? No-it's worse - The pay gap between men and women's wages is 18.2%, nearly 1% worse than 2013, and the worst in 20 years. Men on average will earn $14,500 more than a woman, who will have to work 66 days more to earn it.
