The Workplace Gender Equality (Matters in relation to Gender Equality Indicators) Amendment Instrument 2015 (No. 1) has been registered. The Instrument amends the Workplace Gender Equality (Matters in relation to Gender Equality Indicators) Instrument 2013 (No. 1) to change workplace gender equality reporting requirements from the year commencing 1 April 2015.

Businesses with 100 or more employees are required by section 13 of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 to lodge reports each year with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency containing information relating to various gender equality indicators.

Commencing 1 April 2015, the extent of the required reporting will be reduced. Employers will no longer be required to report on:

• remuneration of Chief Executive Officers or equivalent, key management personnel above the Chief Executive Officer and managers employed on a casual basis
• workers engaged on a contract for services basis (eg independent contractors who run their own business and negotiate their own fees)
• annualised average full-time components of total remuneration
• information on the number of applications received and interviews conducted
• the number of requests made, and approvals granted, for extensions to parental leave.

Employers will continue to report on:

• the number of employees by gender, manager or non-manager occupational category and employment status
• managers grouped into existing management categories and the reporting distance from the Chief Executive Officer
• annualised average full-time equivalent base salary and total remuneration for employees
• the gender composition of governing bodies.

From the 2015-16 reporting period, employers will provide additional data regarding:

• appointments, promotions and resignations for managers and non-managers
• the proportion of employees that ceased employment following parental leave for managers and non-managers.

Changes to reporting requirements will start in the 2015-16 reporting period, which begins on 1 April 2015. Reports for this period are due to be lodged with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (the Agency) between 1 April and 31 May 2016.

Reporting requirements for the 2014-15 reporting period, which are due to be lodged with the Agency between 1 April and 31 May 2015, are unchanged.