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Workplace Giving Australia has recognised law firm Macpherson Kelley with a silver award. The accolade was won at the Australian Workplace Giving Awards in their Best Overall Program category (SMEs). Bain & Company got the gold in the small/medium category, with King & Wood Mallesons and Petspiration Group getting gold and silver, respectively, for the large business Best Overall Program award.
Alongside their announcement of the winners, Workplace Giving Australia stated: “Workplace giving is a joint relationship between employers, employees, and charities with one main goal – supporting causes and communities in need.
“The programs are continuing to evolve, and we will be celebrating all forms of workplace giving from pre-tax payroll giving programs, to innovative charity and employer partnerships, employee-nominated grants programs, and more,” they added.
Paul Kirton is a director at Macpherson Kelley and the foundation chair for the Macpherson Kelley Foundation. Commenting on the award, he said: “No workplace giving program would succeed without buy-in from our employees. This is their workplace giving program and it is their commitment and support that has resulted in this award.”
The HR Leader spoke with Emma Berry, a former commercial associate at Macpherson Kelley for a podcast back in June this year about her involvement in their working group for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI): Macpherson Kelley commercial associate on why she’s joined DEI group.
Ms Berry talked passionately about her DEI work: “To be part of something so big for our firm, to do something that is really going to affect a lot of change for the people who are already in our firm and who are going to be joining our firm, I think that’s really important.”
Getting involved and giving back seems to be part of the DNA at Macpherson Kelley.
In the Workplace Giving Australia 2022 Awards e-booklet, which profiles Macpherson Kelley as a finalist for the award, it states: “The FACETEAM (Foundation And Community Engagement TEAM) is a unique WPG program advisory board of approximately 18 employees at all levels of MK. This board works to both represent employees, and to encourage staff engagement across the organisation.”
Mr Kirton said in Macpherson Kelley’s statement about the Australian Workplace Giving Awards: “I am very proud of what has been achieved and delivered for our chosen charities and for our staff.”
For more on Macpherson Kelley, including their work in the DEI space, you can read HR Leader’s coverage of the firm here.
Shandel McAuliffe
Shandel has recently returned to Australia after working in the UK for eight years. Shandel's experience in the UK included over three years at the CIPD in their marketing, marcomms and events teams, followed by two plus years with The Adecco Group UK&I in marketing, PR, internal comms and project management. Cementing Shandel's experience in the HR industry, she was the head of content for Cezanne HR, a full-lifecycle HR software solution, for the two years prior to her return to Australia.
Shandel has previous experience as a copy writer, proofreader and copy editor, and a keen interest in HR, leadership and psychology. She's excited to be at the helm of HR Leader as its editor, bringing new and innovative ideas to the publication's audience, drawing on her time overseas and learning from experts closer to home in Australia.
