CUA makes career and family life balance simpler for working mums
While it can be hard for working women to find a balance between paving their way to a successful career and raising children, companies such as CUA (Credit Union Australia) are making it easier by being more flexible when it comes to work hours, sick leave, and maternity leave.
Australia’s largest credit union was recently recognised by the Federal Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) as an Employer of Choice for Women in 2008.
Head of Accounting Mrs Nerida Trappett said she had benefited from CUA’s flexible working arrangements and equal employment opportunity policies.
“I have been at CUA for 12 years and over that time I’ve been able to progress up through four positions into the full time senior management role I now hold,” she said.
“During this time I have had two years off for maternity leave and have never felt that being a female employee at CUA has held me back in terms of career progression.
“I believe the flexibility and equal employment opportunities CUA offers to its female employees are engrained in our organisation’s culture.
“This culture is not something new – it’s been around for a long time and has helped to improve CUA’s policies towards working mothers each year.”
Remuneration Services Manager Ms Silvana Avramovski said she had also benefited from CUA’s flexible working arrangements.
“I have been working for CUA for approximately a year-and-half and since day one I have had a flexible working arrangement,” she said.
“At the beginning of my employment I explained my situation and different working arrangements with my team and they were quite embracing and supportive.
“They understood I couldn’t necessarily start everyday at 8.30am or finish too late and that I would work from home one day a week.”
Ms Avramovski said when working from home her working pattern was very different.
“CUA provides me with a laptop and internet connection which enables me to work anywhere at any time outside of the ordinary 9-5 period.
“I usually get a solid amount of work done when the kids are put to bed or when my little one is napping, and throughout the day I regularly check my emails to stay on top of what’s happening at work.
CUA Managing Director Mr Graham Olrich said he realised the challenge many women faced in balancing their personal and professional responsibilities.
“Our commitment to our employees is at the highest level and we try to relieve the pressures of those difficult decisions by having policies in place to support females’ lifestyles,” he said.
“Women make up approximately 70 percent of the workforce at CUA so it is necessary to have policies in place that support so many of our staff members.”
CUA’s most recent equal opportunity for women initiatives included:
- Offering six weeks paid parental leave to any employee who is the primary child carer and has reached 12 months service. This is paid at the employee's choice of an up-front lump sum payment, or at full pay for six weeks or half pay for 12 weeks. Additionally, employees who have reached three years’ service or more are also entitled to a four week "return to work payment" paid in a lump sum after the employee has returned to work at CUA for three months.
- Recognising the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby by providing flexibility for mothers to take lactation breaks during their workday and providing a clean private room with a lockable door, comfortable chair, refrigerator and storage area.
- Promoting and encouraging flexible working arrangements such as teleworking, flexible hours, part-time and job-share working arrangements.
Mr Olrich also said that at CUA issues relating to employment including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer or training opportunities were decided purely on the basis of qualification, merit and ability.
“Over 50 percent of CUA managers are female whereas the average percentage of female managers in the financial services industry is approximately half that according to ABS statistics.
“Plus three of the eight people that make up CUA’s Board of Directors are women. This demonstrates the high level of commitment CUA has towards equal opportunity and diversity issues in the workplace.”
