Bro 2.0: The Australian tech industry's challenge with supporting female entrepreneurs extends to their compensation levels.

The proverbial saying goes, "There’s no I in team," and according to Atlassian’s report on gender pay disparity, there seems to be no "W" either. The recently released figures to the federal government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) highlight a 17.4% discrepancy in median base salaries between men and women at the software company, surpassing the national average of 14.5%. When factoring in bonuses and overtime, the gap widens to 18.1% at Atlassian, although still lower than the national median of 19%.

The annual WGEA report, now including individual company data for the first time, sheds light on the gender pay gaps prevalent in many tech companies, challenging the industry's self-proclaimed image of equality and high pay. While the headline numbers grab attention, they often oversimplify complex issues. Various factors influence median base salaries and bonuses, making direct comparisons challenging.

Equal pay legislation has been in place for over five decades, primarily addressing award wages, but recent debates over "Same Job, Same Pay" legislation highlight ongoing challenges, especially concerning negotiation beyond award wages. Negotiations between workers and employers often involve a delicate balance, and discrepancies, even at executive levels, occasionally underscore gender disparities.

Analyzing gender composition across pay quartiles within companies reveals strategies to reduce gender pay gaps, such as promoting more women to senior positions. Additionally, examining board diversity highlights progress in gender representation but also reveals areas needing improvement, with women still underrepresented in leadership roles.