Pay gap between women and men comes under scrutiny

ANY employer, including small businesses, would need to disclose what female staff earn relative to men to a Pay Equity Unit with a ‘’sticks and carrots” approach to solving the gender pay gap, a Federal Government report recommends.

Describing the main industrial relations system as ‘’steeped in gender assumptions”, the committee chaired by the Labor MP Sharryn Jackson found most women worked in low-paid and casual work that was reliant on the minimum wage and award safety nets, and wants the ”modern” awards also re-examined on gender grounds.

The Committee found that Australian women are paid on average 17 per cent less than men because of social assumptions about the role of women as parents, because women disproportionately work in part-time and casual work and because typically female ”caring” work is undervalued.

Plain sex discrimination was also to blame.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au

Comment:

Ms Jackson and her committee seem to me to have based their argument on a somewhat shaky foundation. If one works in a low paid or casual job, one will obviously earn less than someone who works full-time in a highly paid job. I don’t see that as discrimination, or a gender assumption, just a pragmatic example of cause and effect.

And although I agree that caring work is undervalued, I would argue that is the result of market forces of supply and demand, rather than discrimination.

The answer? To educate ALL children about the commercial realities and long term implications of their work and life choices at an early age, so they are able to make informed decisions at each of their life transition points.

Susan Wareham McGrath

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Susan Wareham McGrath - McGrath Career Management Susan Wareham McGrath is the owner of McGrath Career Management, a national career consulting and HRM agency. She is also General Manager of McGrath Migration Lawyers, one of Australia’s longest established corporate and individual migration advisory firms, which has assisted thousands of businesses and individual clients since its inception in 1983. Because we can expect to work for at least 45 years, Susan believes we should make our careers work for us, rather than working as wage slaves just to pay the bills. And as the owner of two businesses herself, she is passionate about supporting other small business owners to get their HR and recruitment processes right the first time! Susan is tertiary qualified in psychology and human resource management, holds a post graduate qualification in public policy development and is a nationally accredited trainer. She is a strong advocate for the personal and professional development of women, and she is an Advisory Board Member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. Email: susan@susanwareham.com Website: www.susanwareham.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/Susan_McGrath Blog: www.susanwareham.com LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/susanwmcgrath Member Profile: See Susan’s Member Profile

Member MeetUps – Networking Events for ABN Members

At the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, we realise that sometimes the best way to network is face-to-face. I also know that a lot of time can be spent at networking events where a lot of time is wasted not meeting the right people.

That’s why the Australian Businesswomen’s Network has introduced a great new way for you to meet other members and where you get to choose who you network with.

The new Member MeetUps are not another networking event (there’s plenty of those around) and it’s uniquely ABN.

You won’t show up to a hotel and be greeted with a nametag. You won’t get served cold canapés and you won’t have to hope that there’s time enough for you to meet the right people.

But, Member MeetUps are not for everyone…

You see, they are structured to have members be proactive about their networking and to take steps to get to know other members.

So, how do Member MeetUps work?

Members nominate to coordinate a MeetUp. The MeetUp may be for general networking or for a specific topic. For example members have already created MeetUps to follow on from the Know-How Now! webinar presentations that ABN has presented, so that they can further explore the implementation of what they have learned on the webinars.

As the coordinator you determine a date, time and place (coffee shops and restaurants work great). You then post the MeetUp on the ABN forums and we help notify other members. You can also look through the Member Directory and invite others to join you. You are provided ideas and guidelines of ways to run your MeetUp.

Want to be part of a Member MeetUp?

• Email us the details of your MeetUp including proposed date, time, venue
• We’ll then help you organise the MeetUp by inviting other members to attend (we’ll post details in the member bulletin and on our website)

“The biggest benefit for me is that I get to meet the lovely ladies face to face and really get to know them and their business better. It is great to connect in ‘real life’. Online social media are great tools, but you tend to stick at home behind your computer and don’t really get to know the person behind the business. In particular, being alone in my business, it is vital for me to have that physical connection as well. Bouncing ideas around, chatting about what works well and what can be improved, celebrations of our successes (of course with a bubbly!!) and to give ourselves a pat on the back for being wonderfully amazing women in our businesses!” I strongly recommend other members to attend a MeetUp. They connect people at a different level and we are in a position to meet all the ABN members outside of the ‘official’ events, webinars etc.” Bianca de Reus – The Power to Be

And here are some of the benefits identified by members…

• Great to put a name/product to a face
• Motivation
• So inspiring being around other ambitious and motivated women
• Future recommendations, sharing of ideas, information and knowledge
• Getting out of the office and trying a new place with a new group of women

Member MeetUps are a NEW way for you to network with other members, a way for members to meet face-to-face to talk business, create business opportunities and collaborate around the monthly business focus subjects and other areas of interest.

Important Announcement for Small Businesses

Business and individual taxpayers may be affected by the ATO’s plans to implement its new income tax system in late January 2010.

The Tax Office’s computer systems will be unavailable from Friday, 22 January until Wednesday, 27 January 2010 while it implements the new system. In addition, it will suspend some processing in the weeks leading up to the implementation.

There will also be some processing delays in the weeks following the implementation as the new system gradually returns to full processing levels. The ATO advises that these delays may continue during February 2010. 

The ATO recommends that business and individual taxpayers expecting a tax refund have their income tax returns lodged as early as possible (before Christmas 2009) to reduce the likelihood of any delays. 

Details about processing suspensions and other implications for tax agents and taxpayers will be provided as soon as they are available.

 

Your bank balance is NO clue to how your business is doing

When you’re growing a business, the state of your bank balance is really not sufficient evidence of how your business is doing. This strategy may work when you’re starting out but as you grow you need more sophisticated measures of your finances.

Unfortunately most businesses fail to improve their systems as they grow and so are not in a position to have a clear picture of their profitability and progress. (I’m no longer surprised by how many businesses do not know what it costs to ‘open the doors’ or whether they are turning a profit.)

Many of us start businesses with little financial education and training. Those that do well in the long run DO have a sense of what it takes to make a business successful financially.

Your business can be different. You can be empowered to be well informed, with some straight-forward methods for managing your finances. Personally, figures are still not my strength. But I have studied and put in place systems (and people) to ensure that I am on top of things.

On today’s Business Growth webinar we’ll look at just how it is that you can know exactly how your business is performing financially.

Expert presenter and trusted advisor, Bruce Whiting, is one of today’s presenters on the Effective Growth Management strategies webinar during which we’ll look at how to:

• Ensure your ‘accounting room’ is operating correctly
• Know you’re getting the right financial results – measuring the right indicators
• Get accurate monthly reporting
• Develop links with financiers

And if you’re ready for the accountability that a board can give any business, you’ll also get tips on how to work towards getting your own board in place.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Time: 10.15am for 10.30am – 12.00noon AEDST
Venue: Webinar
Price: Growth Members — No Charge, StartUp Members — $39, Non-Members — $59

I hope you’ll join me at 10.30am today.

Sincerely,

Suzi Dafnis — Community Director

P.S. The second part of the presentation deals with how to manage your human resources as you grow. If you’re growing… you’re going to have to strategies your team (whether they be salaried, contractors, virtual or inhouse).  We’ll look at how to make the best decisions to suit your business vision.

P.P.S. Members – remember to login to get your discounted rates.

Women stride forth in confidence… Pink Magazine

Aussie blogger Lesley-Ann Trow writes for the top US businesswomen’s magazine, Pink. In a recent article she leads into her interview with Suzi Dafnis this way…. “let me take a moment to show you what we Aussies are up to in the Innovation and Collaboration stakes - we might be Down Under but we’re On Top when it comes to teaching our girls to fish – thanks to Suzi Dafnis and the ABN. “

Read the Pink Magazine interview with Suzi Dafnis, Australian Businesswomen’s Network.

Lesley-Ann Trow is Founder of Gorgeous Things – the pink guide to being green and gorgeous.

Learn more about Pink Magazine here.

Business lessons we can learn from elephants

Last Friday ANZ held a Women in Business event at Taronga Zoo. The breakfast networking event was held at the Wild Asia Exhibit, the home of Luk Chai, the first Asian elephant calf to be born at Taronga Zoo.

The networking event (attended by local businesswomen and guests) was part of ANZ’s Be Money Confident initiative for women.

Be Money Confident ambassador, Antonia Kidman, gave a speech about business lessons we can learn from elephants.

The lessons, while light-hearted, held many truths and resonated with me.

These same lessons (and the recommendations that Antonia provided) are also very aligned with the work that we do at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network to support women.

Lessons we can learn from elephants

The elephant’s gestational period is 22 months, the longest of any land animal.	Lesson: It can take time for good ideas to gestate. Slow and steady is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s important to take the time to properly plan, since many new start-ups can fail simply because they haven’t done their homework first.
Elephants are born with fewer survival instincts than many other animals. Instead, they must rely on their elders to teach them the things they need to know.	Lesson: Finding a good mentor with experience is critical. Being willing to accept their help, particularly in the formative stages can enhance your business’s success. It also provides a way to learn business skills as your business expands. Seek out advice from an accountant, financial specialist or take advantage of mentoring programmes.
Elephants are a symbol of wisdom in Asian cultures and are famed for their memory and intelligence.	Lesson: Respect can take time to earn. Women tend to be less adept at self-promotion. In other words, we are not quick to tell other people about our achievements and successes and this has wider knock-on effects. Successful businesswomen should be celebrated and more widely promoted, not only to inspire other women, but also to encourage the business community to consider the huge potential that exists in female-run businesses.
An elephant’s skin is extremely tough and measures about an inch thick. But although tough, it is very sensitive.	Lesson: Develop your own thick skin. For many of us, criticism can be hard to bear. Whether it’s peer response, a tough economic environment or one too many rejections, every business faces situations which make it easy to think about giving in. But by learning to view these situations objectively and figuring out what you need to learn from the experience you stand a better chance of weathering the storm. And at the same time, relish your ability to show sensitivity and empathy, which can be used to your advantage.
Healthy adult elephants have no natural predators, although lions may take calves or weak individuals.	Lesson: A healthy business is the best defense. This starts with proper business planning, including a focus on cash flow. Many businesses – particularly those in the service-based sectors suffer sever paeaks and troughs in revenue. Make sure you really understand the financial demands and costs of your business.
Elephants have the ability to use their trunks like snorkels for breathing and are known to swim like that for up to 6 hours and 50km.	Lesson: Use what you’ve got! Our skills at multi-tasking and organisation can make us great entrepreneurs. Have self-belief and be prepared to recognize your success.
The elephant’s trunk may have over forty thousand individual muscles in it, making it sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of grass, yet strong enough to rip the branches off a tree.	Lesson: Know how and when to use your strength. A factor that links many successful businesswomen is their determination to succeed. Often this manifests itself in competing just a little bit harder, and being prepared to make tough decisions when the situation requires it. While having clear goals and aspirations is important, real success requires self-confidence and courage.
Elephants display a wide variety of behaviours including those associated with music, art, altruism, play, use of tools, compassion and self awareness.	Lesson: A work/life balance is important. While it can be tempting to devote ourselves to our business, this can at times come at the expense of our families or ourselves. Women are very good at feeling terribly guilty when we take time out. However, this is so important! There is no doubt taking time out of your business can be hard to do if you don’t have the support system in place with good employees, friends or family. But when we do, the benefits are rewarding. Not only do you feel more refreshed, making you a better wife, partner, mother or friend, but it helps to centre you around what is important, providing the ability to look at your business with fresh eyes.
Elephants can communicate over long distances by producing and receiving a sub-sonic rumbling, which can travel in the air and through the ground much further than higher frequencies.	Lesson: Take advantage of the communication tools at your disposal. Modern communication like the internet can help keep networking connections strong, through use of email, blogs, and social networking tools. It can provide links to like-minded, experienced business owners through mentoring programs. There are great resources available online to assist in bringing a business idea to life, or helping to broaden and grow your business skills and best of all most are free.
Elephants live in a structured social order. Females spend their entire lives in tightly knit groups made up of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. These groups are led by the eldest female, or matriarch.	Lesson: As women we need to stand together and learn from each other’s skills, strength and experience Make an effort to find people who share common interests and a sense of community. Local business associations and local council networking groups offer the chance to meet other women – and gives you the chance to support and learn from each other’s experience and skills
And finally: When a group gets too big, a few of the elder daughters will break off and form their own small group.	Lesson: Women can be the driving force to create new enterprises, and explore new opportunities. Research from the UK suggests that women are more likely to be more innovative than men in their approach to business development and new ideas, which can only benefit the business community. If you have a good idea, a plan for success and the resources to strike out, then have the confidence to be entrepreneurial.

You can learn more about ANZ’s Be Money Confident initiative here. You’ll find interesting articles and resources as well as budget calculators.

Green Funding Grants Now Open For Applications

As part of its International Climate Champions programme, the British Council in Australia is offering five (5) project grants of AU$10,000 each for visionary Australians who will make a real difference in the area of climate change.

Each grant will be for AU $10,000 towards implementing the proposed project.

The projects are expected to be delivered in partnership with the British Council and will involve regular meetings and consultation, and the involvement of British Council staff in the project throughout its various stages of development and implementation.

Awardees are expected to participate in the British Council’s online climate forums and be prepared to undertake other professionaldevelopment, advocacy and networking activities up to 31 March 2011. Applications close on 4 December, interviews will be held on 11 December and successful applicants announced by 18 December.

For further information visit The British Council in Australia’s Big Green Idea website.

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Susan Wareham McGrath, National Special Projects Manager — Australian Businesswomen’s Network

Susan joined the ABN Board as National Special Projects Manager – Public Policy and Advocacy in February 2007. Tertiary qualified in psychology, business and public policy development, Susan holds Accredited Professional status with the Recruitment Services Association Ltd and is a nationally accredited trainer. She is a mentor in the ABN’s MentorNet program and a regular panelist in the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program.

Business Success Comes From Managing Human Resources

What is the biggest mistake people make when hiring? How can a small business, with limited resources manage their human resource needs? Award winning business owner Phoebe Lane of PKL is this month’s featured entrepreneur.

Welcome to this Interview with An Entrepreneur

Phoebe Lane is both the Managing Director and majority owner of PKL, a specialist office support recruitment agency which she established in 1995. Founded in a tiny shared office on Macquarie Street, Phoebe has successfully grown PKL into a national operation employing 39 permanent employees across Australia.

In this interview we talk about:

• What’s the biggest mistake people make when looking to recruit the right person for their business
• How can a small business, with few resources best manage human resources as their business needs change
• Managing resources is hard for many businesses, especially for small businesses. How have you managed resources to maintain growth in the business?

Enjoy this interview with Phoebe Lane.

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH PHOEBE LANE

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About Phoebe Lane and PKL

Phoebe Lane is both the Managing Director and majority owner of PKL, a specialist office support recruitment agency which she established in 1995. Founded in a tiny shared office on Macquarie Street, Phoebe has successfully grown PKL into a national operation employing 39 permanent employees across Australia.

Phoebe’s primary focus is developing the company’s business and financial strategies to maintain manageable growth and to ensure effective service delivery. As part of her role, she leverages industry trends, develops new geographic markets, identifies potential targets and forges industry partnerships to facilitate PKL’s long-term success. Phoebe created PKL to provide the marketplace with a much needed workforce solutions partner that operates on the time-honoured principles of honesty, integrity, trust and accountability.

Phoebe’s company, PKL is the only national agency that focuses specifically on office support recruitment. It is considered one of the larger employers of consultants specialising in this sector. PKL currently has an annual turnover in excess of $17 million.

Phone: 02 9232 4980
Website: www.pkl.com.au