Star Entertainment makes changes to key employee policies

Australia’s second largest casino operator has made changes to its key employee policies in a bid to be more employee focused.

Inside Asian Gaming reports that Star employees will have improved workplace flexibility thanks to the new parental leave policy, which will ensure a family friendly, inclusive and diverse workplace.

Effective immediately, the new policy will increase paid parental leave from 10 weeks to 16 weeks for principal carers plus four weeks for secondary carers.

There will be superannuation paid on all company paid parental leave, plus an extra two weeks’ worth of superannuation, totalling 18 weeks, and the removal of waiting periods on continuous service eligibility for all permanent staff.

Paid parental leave can also now be taken up to two years after the birth or adoption of a child.

Star Entertainment chief executive and managing director Matt Bekier said the organisation understood that the family dynamics are different for each of its employee members.

“We have worked hard to ensure all parents are supported and have the required flexibility as they welcome new family members.

“Our parental leave policy reflects the needs of our workforce and ensures that team members have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally throughout their time with The Star.”

The company said that the changes were made in collaboration with Women at The Star, a staff-led working group that aims to promote gender equality across all aspects of the business by championing change and advocating opportunities for all individuals.

“Inclusive policies assist organisations to attract and retain talented employees,” Women in Gaming and Hospitality Australasia chief executive officer Helen Galloway said.

“The Star should be congratulated on meaningful policy change that addresses equality in the workplace.”

In recent weeks, rival casino operator SkyCity Entertainment has pledged to increase female representation, particularly in senior leadership roles at its organisation.

SkyCity pledges to raise female leadership numbers

The New Zealand headquartered casino operator has pledged to achieve a gender balance across its executive leadership by 2023.

It is aiming to achieve 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men and 20 per cent any gender across its hierarchy.

SkyCity Entertainment chief people and culture officer Claire Walker said over the past 12 months, SkyCity has constantly challenged itself to increase female representation, particularly in senior leadership roles and has maintained a gender balance across the top four levels of the organisation.

“This has been driven by initiatives which support the development of our female talent pipeline and by ensuring strong female candidates are identified in the recruitment process for all executive roles and any systemic bias in recruitment, development and promotion processes are removed.

“SkyCity is also working to understand intersectionality and its impact on women from ethnic minorities, starting by measuring and understanding our ethnic pay gap.”

SkyCity chief executive Michael Ahearne said he is committed to building the capability of SkyCity’s leaders in understanding and leveraging diversity of thought.

“We’ve taken the 40:40 Vision pledge and we’re calling on Australasia’s biggest companies to do the same, drive real change and reap the benefits of having fairer, more inclusive workplaces and stronger business performance,” he said.

SkyCity said it is also working to understand the impact of the ethnic pay gap and the workforce challenges faced by ethnic minorities.