Diageo ranked number one in the world on gender equality
· Bundaberg Rum’s parent company Diageo is ranked number one on the
· Equileap ranks businesses based on 19 gender equality criteria
· Cross-sector analysis of 3,519 companies in 23 developed economies, representing 98 million employees
Diageo, one of the world’s leading drinks producers and parent company of iconic Queensland brand Bundaberg Rum, has been ranked as the number one business globally for gender equality in the Equileap 2019 Global Gender Equality Report and Ranking released today in the UK.
Diageo has improved its global ranking from 11th in the 2018 Equileap report.
The Equileap report is an in-depth, cross-sector analysis of gender equality in 3,519 companies in 23 developed economies, representing 98 million employees. Equileap ranks businesses based on 19 gender equality criteria, including gender balance across the workforce, the gender pay gap, paid parental leave and anti-sexual harassment policies.
Diageo Australia is also one of 141 workplaces cited as an Employer of Choice by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency for 2019, has no gender pay gap and its executive leadership and extended leadership group are both at gender parity.
David Smith, Managing Director at Diageo Australia said: “It’s with immense pride that we share the news that Diageo has been ranked the number one business in the world for gender equality.
“It’s our responsibility as an employer to keep moving the dial towards gender parity and implement industry leading policies and practices. We’ve made huge strides in this space over the last couple of years, most recently with our updated family leave policy, the most progressive policy in the Australian corporate sector. We won’t be resting on our laurels, there’s still so much that needs to be done in this space across society.”
Geraldine Joanes, Human Resources Director at Diageo Australia said: “Gender equality is core to Diageo’s purpose – ‘celebrating life, every day, everywhere’. We passionately believe gender equality in all parts of society is better for everyone and delivers stronger performance.
“When we harness the power of our individual differences, capabilities and experiences we create an amazing place for our people to work. Without a doubt, our inclusive and diverse culture gives us a distinct competitive advantage that contributes to achieving our ambition to be one of the best performing businesses in Australia.”
The ranking is evidence of the progress Diageo has made to champion diversity and inclusion both within the business and beyond. Acknowledgements in the report include:
- The work Diageo has done to achieve gender balance at the most senior levels of the organisation. Currently 44 per cent of Diageo’s Board are women, and the company is working towards a senior leadership team of 40 per cent women by 2025.
- Diageo’s global parental leave policy that means all Australian employees are eligible to take 26 weeks paid family leave regardless of gender, carer status or length of service.
- Diageo’s signatory of the United Nations’ Women’s Empowerment Principles, committing to seven values-led approaches to support women in the workplace, marketplace and community.
Diana van Maasdijk, CEO at Equileap said: “It is Equileap’s mission to accelerate gender equality in the workplace as a powerful and under-used way of tackling poverty and inequality. Diageo are setting an example and we commend the team for their ambitious work to champion inclusion and diversity.”
Hear more from Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo .
Diageo’s commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment has been recognised by its listing on the 2019 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and it’s ranked second in the world for inclusion and diversity in the workplace on the 2019 Refinitiv Diversity & Inclusion Index (previously the Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion Index).
