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Have your say on equal pay in small and medium-sized businesses

Do you work for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)? If so, we want to hear from you – we’re conducting exciting new research to identify the barriers that SMEs face in achieving gender pay equity.

10 March 2020

Our research will inform the development of educational resources to support SMEs to reduce the gender pay gap. The Victorian Government has commissioned this research as part of its commitment to end the gender pay gap and increase women’s participation in Victorian workplaces. The project is funded by Industrial Relations Victoria.

The Commission supports the principle of equal pay for equal work and we have committed to work towards reducing the gender pay gap. However, we still have a lot to learn about gender equity when it comes to SMEs.

In Victoria, 97.5% of all businesses are small businesses (1–19 employees) and 2.3% are medium businesses (20–199 employees). But there is no data that accurately calculates the gender pay gap in these businesses, and most educational resources on gender equity are designed for larger organisations.

If you work for an SME in Victoria, the Commission is keen to learn from your perspective. We are leading focus groups and consultations with SMEs across several industries in April 2020 and are calling for individuals to participate.

You don’t need to know anything about gender pay equity. Whether you don’t know much about the gender pay gap, are just beginning to learn, we would like to hear from you!

We are interested in the views and experiences of a broad spectrum of workers in SMEs, including:

  • owner-managers, senior managers, human resources managers, entry-level employees, junior employees and mid-tier employees
  • people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people on temporary visas, LGBTIQ+ people, people from regional and rural locations, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

All research will be de-identified and will not name individuals or SMEs participants. It is intended only for the purpose of better understanding and supporting SMEs.

You can register your interest by emailing: irv.info@dpc.vic.gov.au.

Incentive payments will be provided for participants.

Media contact

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Phone: 1300 292 153
Email: enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au
Post: PO Box 18011, Melbourne VIC 3000

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You might also be interested in

Equal pay for work of equal or comparable value is a basic human right

Educational resources for achieving gender pay equality in small-to-medium enterprises

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Address
Melbourne Victoria 3000

General enquiries
enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Enquiry line
1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583

Interpreters
1300 152 494

NRS Voice Relay
1300 555 727 then use 1300 292 153

Media enquiries
1300 292 153

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We also work remotely and serve communities on the lands of other Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission recognises the injustice resulting from the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples’ territories and the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s findings of genocide, crimes against humanity and denial of freedoms.