Why SafetyCulture’s gender pay gap numbers are missing

When it comes to the new Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) data, the Australian startup scene is a mixed bag. Some of the major players are well below the national median (14.5% median base salary and 19% total remuneration) while others soar above it. But there was one glaring omission: double Australian unicorn SafetyCulture.

First, some context.

Some of Australia’s biggest startups submitted for the report, including the likes of Canva, Atlassian, Employment Hero and Airwallex.

Here’s how some of them fared on the gender pay gap front:

• 99Designs: Median base: 22.7% Median total: 23.3%
• Airtasker: Median base: 25.8% Median total: 23.7%
• Airwallex: Median base: 9.7% Median total: 12%
• Atlassian: Median base: 17.4%. Median total: 18.1%
• Brighte: Median base: 22.1% Median total: 27%
• Canva: Median base: 10.9%. Median total: 10.8%
• Culture Amp: Median base: 5.2% Median total: 5.7%
• Employment Hero: Median base: 6.1% Median total: 20.3%
• Envato: Median base: 15.1% Median total: 19.4%
• Finder (Finder Crew Lty Ltd): Median base: 10.3% Median total: 15.1%
• Go1: Median base: 19.2% Median total: 19/2%
• Pet Circle (Millell Pty Ltd): Median base: -0.5% Median total: -0.9%
• Prospa: Median base: 10.4% Median total: 15.6%
• Rokt: Median base: 34.9% Median total: 52.4%
• Wisr: Median base: 13% Median total: 20.3%

Why is SafeyCulture missing from the gender pay gap report?

Considering SafetyCulture has been on the scene for 12 years and last had a valuation of $2.7 billion, its absence from the report is conspicuous.

As of 2022, the company was reported to have roughly 600 Australian employees. And in 2021, in an article published by SmartCompany, founder Luke Anear said SafetyCulture’s average salary for its Australian employees was $128,931.

These are big numbers. And one could argue that because of this, and SafetyCulture’s prominence within the Australian startup scene, it is a beacon to be looked to for precedence when it comes to issues of culture and pay.

So why not data?

SmartCompany understands SafetyCulture registered with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in early 2023.

The company was informed that it would not be required to submit an initial report to the WGEA until between April 1 and May 31, 2024. However, it will be submitting annual reports thereafter.

It’s worth noting that other prominent startups, such as Linktree and Zeller, also didn’t submit for the report.

It’s SmartCompany’s understanding that there are cases where the WGEA will grant businesses exemptions from reporting, which can be for a variety of different legitimate reasons.

This includes when a business may have registered with the WGEA in close proximity to when reporting is due, which is a lengthy and involved process.

One of the reasons can be company size. For example, employers are required to register with the Agency for the Gender Equality Reporting program if they have employed in total of 100 or more employees for six months or more of a reporting period.

In the case of SafetyCulture, it reportedly had 600 Australian employees as of November 2022.

It’s currently unclear what triggered SafetyCulture’s reasons for registering with the WGEA in 2023. SafetyCulture declined to comment on the record.