SIMPLY creating a work-friendly environment for women can actually damage a company, alienating men who no longer want to work there.

A new Federal Government guide to equality in the workplace has been drawn up after a review of 10 major businesses to help companies address the gap between women and men in boardrooms, pay packets and in management.

HIP POCKET: Gender inequality hits women where it hurts

But it found gaps must be closed with careful planning, as creating women-happy workplaces without other measures risks driving smart, male employees out the door.

“Some organisations approach gender equality as simply creating a positive work environment for women,” the Centre for Workplace Leadership says in its report.

“In female-dominated industries and occupations, this focus on creating a positive environment for women may result in a failure to attract and retain high-quality male employees.”

media_camera Assistant Womens Minister Michaelia Cash released the Workplace Gender and Equality Strategy today. Picture: Gary Ramage

The report said male-dominated workplaces, such as engineering and mining, it led to the view that gender equality was only a “woman’s issue” and wider, systemic issues would not change.

It said companies should focus on good workplaces for both men and women.

The Workplace Gender and Equality Strategy, funded by the Employment Department and released by Assistant Womens Minister Michaelia Cash today, looked at how the policies at 10 companies could be improved.

It came after the Workplace Gender Equality Agency found only 7 per cent of employers had a gender equality strategy and only 13 per cent had a strategy for flexible work arrangements.

The report makes suggestions, such as targets for how many women and men will be interviewed for jobs, robust gender reporting and equity targets, restrictions on social functions based around alcohol and sport, and not talking down flexible work with comments like working from home was like taking a day off