Supporting gender equality: Moving towards fair and equitable workload allocation

You are here:

Supporting gender equality: Moving towards fair and equitable workload allocation

Monday, 11 April 2022

Tags:

On 5 April 2022, ECU participated in the Diversity Interventions 2022 SAGE Virtual Conference, hosted by Science in Australia Gender Equity Ltd (SAGE) in partnership with Advance HE and Oxford University. Featuring over 60 speakers and 40+ sessions, the Conference is an international collaborative event aimed at growing the evidence base for gender equity, diversity and inclusion solutions that work for achieving systemic change.

The National Special Interest Group (SIG) for Workload Allocation, which aims to inform the evaluation of current workload allocation models across institutions, presented findings in a workshop setting to participants to obtain feedback which will inform finalisation of a ‘Workload Allocation Principles Matrix’. Feedback was sought for first impressions of the tool, its usability in starting relevant conversations and the flexibility of application.

The conference workshop, entitled ‘Moving towards fair and equitable workload allocation: Piloting the SAGE co-designed Workload Allocation Principles Matrix’, was co-facilitated by SIG members, including ECU Program Manager – Athena Swan, Jenna Ardagh, alongside fellow collaborators from a wide range of institutions nation-wide including: University of Queensland, Charles Sturt University, Western Sydney University, Swinburne University, Griffith University, University of the Sunshine Coast, Western Sydney University and Curtin University.

Over the last 12 months, the SIG has collaborated to develop the ‘Workload Allocation Principles Matrix’ which features five core guiding principles that aim to redress various issues across academia relating to workload allocations. Considerations include the quantity of work assigned to individuals and the gendered allocation of tasks which - both prevalent themes across the higher education and research sector. The ‘Matrix’ will provide guidance on best practice and application informed by evidence, facilitating two-way engagement between managers and staff. It aims to establish equitable and fair allocation of workload that aligns with considerate work expectations.

Following the conference, feedback on the ‘Workload Allocation Principles Matrix’ will be assessed with appropriate updates made. It will be formally piloted with a small selection of institutions and shared with individuals before the final release expected in late 2022.

For more information on the Workload Allocation Principles Matrix or on SAGE and Athena Swan, please contact athenswanaustralia@ecu.edu.au.

About ECU