Australia Post has stamped out its gender pay gap, bringing the company’s average pay difference between men and women to zero per cent.
The reduction is an improvement on the company’s 1.4 per cent difference recorded in 2016 and is far below the national average of 16 per cent.
Australia Post acting chief executive Christine Corbett said she was extremely pleased with the result given Australia Post is one of the largest employers in the country.
“Over the last seven and a half years we have focused on improving the representation of women across all levels of leadership and addressing unconscious bias,” Corbett said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Since then, we have seen a concerted effort across the board to recognise and champion our female workers.”
In the past year, over 400 women have participated in Australia Post’s career development programs, which Corbett described as being “instrumental” in identifying and nurturing talent.
Women now account for 37.5 per cent of all management staff at Australia Post, up from 36.4 per cent, while the number of female board members has jumped to 44.4 per cent from 33.3 per cent in 2016.
The announcement comes only weeks before former Blackmores chief executive Christine Holgate is due to take the reins and lead Australia Post on less than half the pay of her predecessor Ahmed Fahour.
Holgate will join the board at the end of the month and will receive an annual salary of $1.375 million, more than $4 million less than the $5.6 million Fahour took home in 2016/17.
Her appointment will bring the number of female directors to five out of nine, including deputy chair Holly Kramer.
Free shipping launched
Meanwhile the distribution company has also gotten in early before Christmas trade and seemingly e-commerce giant Amazon’s launch, today announcing free shipping on eligible purchases at over 40 of Australia’s biggest online stores – including Booktopia, Myer, Target, Toys R Us, Cotton On and Showpo until January 1.
Shoppers in metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can join Shipster, a new membership program powered by Australia Post, for $9.95. Members will receive free shipping whenever they spend $25 and over at participating stores, as well as free delivery of one Deliveroo order each month.
Shipster members will have their shipping costs automatically deducted on eligible purchases at the checkout.
“We know our customers love to shop online and this Christmas we expect more gifts to be bought online than ever before,” said Corbett.
“And with online shopping growing from 11.5 per cent to 15 per cent in the last 12 months, we’re predicting the busiest year for online shopping we’ve ever seen at Australia Post.”
Following the introductory period, Shipster membership will cost $6.95 per month, and continue to allow customers to receive free delivery where shipping costs less than $20.