The Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector has issued new guidance to help Agencies analyse the results of their required workplace gender audits.
The Commission said its Analysing your workplace gender audit results guidance note would help defined entities understand their workplace gender audit data so they could use the results to develop Gender Equality Action Plans.
It said under the Gender Equality Act 2020, defined entities were required to make reasonable and material progress in relation to the workplace gender equality indicators.
“In 2021, the goal is to use the audit indicators and audit process to establish a ‘baseline’ assessment of gender equality in your workplace,” the Commission said.
“This will be your entity’s starting point from which to make change,” it said.
“In future reporting periods, your audit analyses will support you to measure and demonstrate reasonable and material progress against this starting point.”
The Commission said it was important to remember that undertaking a baseline audit and analysis was not about demonstrating that an Agency had a gender equitable organisation.
“Successful ‘baseline’ analysis is grounded in rigorous, transparent analysis and a commitment to understanding your true starting point,” it said.
“Data gaps are expected in 2021, as are resulting gaps and challenges in analysis.”
It said Agencies should aim to address the data gaps for the future through actions in their Gender Equality Action Plans.
The Commission’s 27-page Guidance can be downloaded at this PS News link.
