The Workplace Gender Equality Agency's (WGEA) initial launch of its inaugural gender pay report has caused widespread confusion in the advertising industry.
Industry insiders have questioned what happened to those independent agencies, with 100 plus staff, meeting the requirements to lodge data.
AdNews can reveal that newcomers, not having reported to WGEA before, are automatically given a year’s grace to submit a first report.
This means many indie agencies have more time to report their data.
Atomic 212 told AdNews its first gender equality report is due to be submitted between April 1 and May 31 this year. The agency registered with WGEA last year.
Thinkerbell has also successfully enrolled into the program and is required to submit its report between that time and annually thereafter.
One requirement for a relevant employer is having headcount more than 100 people for six or more months.
RyanCap told AdNews it's under the headcount.
Sparro did not make the headcount but will be included in the next reporting period as they have grown since.
Among the missing businesses in the industry is Omnicom-owned creative group TBWA Worldwide, which appears in the list of non-compliant companies.
However this was due to an administration error of the agency's results, says Adrian Paul, TBWA chief operating officer.
"TBWA Australia is on track to submit today, with the aim for these to be made public as soon as possible," Paul told AdNews last week.
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