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Diversity and Inclusion

Laing O’Rourke is committed to attracting and developing the most talented people regardless of their race, sexual orientation, religion, age and gender or disability status. We continually strive to build a workplace that seeks out and values different perspectives and where all employees and stakeholders feel respected and that their opinion is valued. We promote a culture that embraces unique perspectives and where opportunities are realised based on skills and competence not race, gender or other preferences.

Setting an ambitious target for gender balance is a significant step in the process to deliver overdue change in a sector that continues to lack diversity. Becoming more diverse and inclusive is a key strand of the business’ mission to be the recognised leader for innovation and excellence.

Gender Equality Action Plan

Over the last ten years we have implemented policies and interventions to attract more women into our business, and to keep them. In 2018, our Australian business developed and implemented a Gender Equality Action Plan calling out specific actions and initiatives to increase the pipeline of women in project leadership roles. 

Since then, we have continued to push the boundaries, setting ambitious targets to achieve gender parity across our global staff by 2033. Our Gender Equality Action Plan, launched in 2024, sets out how we will achieve our market leading gender parity targets, through courageous change, honest conversations and building capability.

WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality

We are recognised by the prestigious Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE).

This is the third consecutive EOCGE awarded to Laing O’Rourke, having met a rigorous set of requirements, and demonstrating a visible commitment to gender equality as a strategic imperative for the business. You can read more here.

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Read about Laing O'Rourke's commitment to
closing the gender pay gap

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Parental leave

Laing O’Rourke has an industry leading parental leave policy, offering six months parental leave on full pay. Any employee in Australia, regardless of gender, who takes on the primary carer role for a child has access to six months’ parental leave on full pay. This leave is also available for parents who adopt or welcome a baby via surrogacy and may start any time within 15 months after the date of birth of the child.

The policy – any gender, any birth, any child – is matched by additional industry-leading benefits in both our Europe and Australia businesses. Also available is a pregnancy loss policy, providing paid leave for any employee who has suffered, or whose partner or surrogate has suffered, a loss of pregnancy.

Learn more about our parental leave policy

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Social value

In Australia, we are committed to delivering $800 million of social spend by 2030 by focusing on inclusive employment and programmes to engage with priority job seekers, marginalised groups and their communities.

We are members of the Diversity Council Australia, Australian Network on Disability and we partner with several social enterprises, including Career Seekers, giving us an opportunity to help shape and drive social value action across our industry and directly within communities.

Inspiring STEM+ Programme

Encouraging more women into the construction and infrastructure sector starts earlier than adulthood. Laing O’Rourke’s Inspiring STEM+ is a school partnership program designed in-house in 2017 to encourage female students to consider careers in the construction industry, via studying engineering, law, commerce, and environmental science, as well as trade apprenticeships.

Each program includes eight learning modules, including site visits over a two-year period.

The program is active in seven partner schools around the country and has resulted in high school students progressing to work experience, internships, and the graduate program at Laing O’Rourke.

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Diversity and Inclusion Council & Committees

At Laing O'Rourke, the Diversity & Inclusion council includes a range of our Senior Leaders, who establish the direction for our diversity and inclusion agenda and monitor progress.

The Diversity & Inclusion committees are peer-led by employees that have lived or allied experience across five areas – Gender, Parents & Carers, LGBTQIA+ & Allies, Cultural & Linguistic Diversity, and Disabilities). The committees will help develop, deliver and drive initiatives, events and education across the organisation, help colleagues understand their purpose and instil the values of Laing O'Rourke.