Equity & Diversity Annual Report – 2015 Introduction

This is the 28th Equity & Diversity Annual Report of the Reserve Bank of Australia, as required under section 9 of the Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987. The reporting period covers 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

Approach to Diversity

Valuing diversity and inclusion has provided the Reserve Bank with a strong foundation that has helped shape our culture and the way we work. The Bank aims to embed equity, diversity and inclusion principles in its work practices and organisational environment. It also pursues a range of initiatives to strengthen and reinforce diversity and inclusion in the workplace; these initiatives are outlined in its Diversity Plan 2012–2015.

To ensure that its diversity and inclusion practices remain appropriate, the Bank annually reviews its workforce diversity profile, the take-up of its existing policies and programs, the implementation of the initiatives outlined in the Diversity Plan, as well as any relevant external developments. This Annual Report provides a summary of that review. The layout of the Report reflects the diversity-related priorities the Bank has identified, as well as the need to focus on the designated groups defined in the Act – women, people with a disability, people of a non-English speaking background and Indigenous Australians.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Bank aims to ensure that all employees proactively meet their diversity and inclusion responsibilities within their sphere of influence. The Executive Committee is the key governing body responsible for the strategic direction of the Bank's practices. There are, however, a number of key bodies that contribute to equity, diversity and inclusion governance at the Bank, including:

  • Executive management, who are responsible for the implementation of equity, diversity and inclusion activities and performance within their areas
  • All employees, who are required to ensure that their actions in the workplace are consistent with the Bank's equity, diversity and inclusion principles
  • The Diversity & Inclusion Policy Committee, which is a consultative body that includes representatives from management, employees, Human Resources Department and the Finance Sector Union. The Committee makes recommendations on equity, diversity and inclusion matters to the Executive Committee and the Governor, and is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the development and implementation of equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Terms of Reference for the Committee and its membership are set out in the Appendices
  • Diversity Contact Managers, who are responsible for monitoring the implementation of diversity initiatives in their respective departments (which is reported on to the Diversity & Inclusion Policy Committee), and for acting as intermediaries between the Committee and employees
  • The Accessibility Consultative Group, which makes practical suggestions for improvements to the accessibility of computing systems, information and building facilities. Representatives of this body are drawn from relevant departments (namely Information Technology, Information, Facilities Management and Human Resources) and other interested employees
  • Human Resources Department, which provides specialist advice as well as support to assist in the development and implementation of the Bank's Diversity & Inclusion Program.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

For equity, diversity and inclusion principles to be integrated into all work practices, employees must be well informed about the Bank's diversity-related policies and relevant legislation. The Bank strives to achieve this through its policy framework, training and awareness-raising initiatives.

Strategy and policy initiatives

An important component of the Bank's approach to diversity has been its People & Culture Strategy, launched in 2013. The Strategy recognises executive management's commitment to ensuring that the Bank provides a productive, inclusive and rewarding workplace. The importance of fostering an inclusive and flexible work environment is one of the four strategic focus points of the Strategy, along with employee engagement, talent management and leadership development.

One of the initiatives from this Strategy was the introduction of a new Diversity and Inclusion Policy during the reporting period. The policy outlines the Bank's objectives in diversity and inclusion, which are to:

  • provide equal opportunities for all employees based on their ability and performance
  • foster the inclusion of women, various age groups, people with a disability, people of a non-English speaking background, Indigenous Australians and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) employees within the workplace
  • promote an inclusive and collaborative culture
  • develop a deep and diverse pool of well-trained leaders
  • increase the representation of women across management positions.

To track progress on the gender diversity objective, the Policy introduced a target of having 35 per cent of managerial positions filled by women within five years, with a longer-term goal of 40 per cent. At the time the Policy was announced, women accounted for 30 per cent of managerial positions; that has since risen to 32 per cent. The Bank also announced a range of gender-related initiatives to support women within the Bank as well as initiatives to promote economics, finance, mathematics and IT as career options for women in the community more broadly.

During the year, the Bank also reaffirmed its values through a revised Workplace Behaviour Policy and the Code of Conduct, which emphasise the principles of diversity and inclusion, including respect and the harnessing of individual differences and diversity of thought. The Workplace Behaviour Policy specifically recognises the Bank's commitment to providing a workplace where employees are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment and bullying, in order to ensure the Bank is more conducive to productive and harmonious working relationships. The Policy also highlights the Bank's commitment to principles of equal employment opportunity.

Training and awareness

The Bank actively promotes diversity through its leadership development programs to managerial staff, including ethical decision-making workshops and unconscious bias and inclusive leadership programs. These programs support expected workplace behaviours and assist managers in embedding the Bank's values.

During the reporting period, the Bank provided training to staff on their workplace responsibilities related to equity, diversity and conduct. All employees completed training on the Code of Conduct and Workplace Behaviour Policy, which reviews the Bank's values, expected workplace behaviours, roles and responsibilities, anti-discrimination legislation and the Bank's Diversity & Inclusion Program.

The Bank also raises awareness about equity, diversity and inclusion matters as part of the induction process for all new employees. This focuses on the Code of Conduct, workplace behaviour and ethical decision-making training.

The Grievance Contact Officer network provides information and advice on a confidential basis to assist employees with work-related grievances by considering issues, desired outcomes and available resolution options. The role of the Grievance Contact Officer network was promoted to all staff through the intranet and in training sessions. Grievance Contact Officers received training in handling grievances.

Information on diversity is made available within the Bank in a number of ways. These include face-to-face awareness sessions on diversity-related issues as well as topical articles and policy updates in periodic employee publications, all of which are available on the Bank's intranet. Diversity-related policies, programs and resources, such as the Bank's Diversity Plan, the Equity & Diversity Annual Report, recordings of training workshops and guides for employees on diversity matters such as accessibility are also available on the intranet.

External membership

The Bank keeps up to date on external equity, diversity and inclusion matters through its diversity memberships and accreditations to ensure its Diversity & Inclusion Program remains current. During the reporting period, the Bank renewed its membership of the Diversity Council Australia, an independent, not-for-profit diversity adviser to businesses in Australia. The Bank also renewed its membership with the Australian Network on Disability (a not-for-profit organisation that aims to advance the inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of employment) and the NSW Equal Employment Opportunity Practitioners' Association. The Bank was also re-accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Data Collection

Equity and diversity information is sought from employees when they commence employment at the Bank and as part of a periodic profile update. It is provided on a voluntary basis and includes information on disability, ethnic origin and proficiency in languages other than English. The Bank's equity and diversity statistics are based primarily on these data; around 85 per cent of employees have elected to disclose their diversity details.

For potential employees of the Bank, the job application form contains an equity and diversity questionnaire, which provides the Bank with a better understanding of the applicants from a diversity perspective and facilitates any reasonable adjustments that might be required, both during the recruitment process and in subsequent employment.

The Reserve Bank's Diversity Profile

At the end of June 2015, the Bank employed 1,255 staff,[1] an increase of 4 per cent from a year earlier. This increase is attributed largely to the continuation of large, multi-year projects that commenced in 2014. Most diversity groups have maintained a fairly constant share of employment at the Bank over the past decade (Graph 1). The exception to this has been an increase in employees from a non-English speaking background and a slight decrease in employees with a disability.

Footnote

Includes locally employed staff in overseas offices. [1]