A growing number of companies are signing up to get the gender tick - promising flexibility and leave, more women in leadership, gender pay equality, providing a gender inclusive culture, and ensuring a safe workplace.
The soft drink giant PepsiCo New Zealand - which also makes Bluebird snacks - has just received accreditation to the YWCA Auckland's Gender Tick programme, joining other Kiwi companies that rank among the fairer places for women to work.
Melanie Ma'afu works in food processing at Bluebird Foods in Wiri, Auckland.
"We're delighted to receive this accreditation, and to be joining a programme that is focused on promoting gender equality," General manager of PepsiCo New Zealand, Ali Hamza, said.
The company strategy included 100% pay equity, flexible work practices and 16 weeks paid parental leave in addition to government-paid parental leave.
• 50% of the New Zealand leadership team are women.
• 53% of employees are women and;
• 52% of the manufacturing team are women.
The company is also a member of Diversity Works New Zealand.
Gender Tick was established in 2018 to promote New Zealand organisations actively committed to achieving gender equality.
Data shows the number of women in senior leadership roles in New Zealand is among the worst in the world.
New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 35 countries surveyed in Grant Thornton International's 2018 Women in Business report.
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of businesses with no women in senior management roles increased from 37% to 56%, while the overall female proportion of senior management teams now stands at 18%.
According to Statistics NZ at June this year the gender pay gap was 9.3 percent. That is the difference in median hourly earnings between men and women.
Six of New Zealand's largest employers joined Gender Tick as foundation members.
Air New Zealand, Auckland Council, Coca-Cola Amatil, Fonterra, Lion and SkyCity collectively represent more than 45,000 employees.
Since then Meridian and Kiwibank have been awarded the Gender Tick.
Companies who become accredited members of the Gender Tick can display the logo on all internal and external communication, promoting themselves as independently validated champions of workplace gender equality.
Membership is reviewed through an evaluation after 18 months. Companies can access research on international best practice for gender-equal workplaces through their member logins.
