A financial services firm’s new office, complete with a golf simulator, indoor cricket pitch and table tennis, has been criticised online for looking like a “boys’ club” unfriendly to women, but the chief executive insists this is an unfair portrayal.
In a social media post, 26 Degrees, which offers “expertise, technology, integrity and a uniquely Australian spirit to drive tailored financial solutions,” promoted its new global headquarters in Sydney.
“After months of great anticipation, 26 Degrees Sydney’s new office at Sub Base Platypus in North Sydney is finally complete,” she posted of the refurbishment, which was completed two months ago.
Images of the fit-out show a cavernous, warehouse-like space adorned with various “children’s toys.”
In one shot, an artificial turf cricket pitch is shown set up behind a lounge, with a basketball hoop and a set of golf clubs also visible.
Another shot shows two men playing table tennis in front of a curtained-off living room, while other images show a racing car next to a pinball machine and a man playing with an iron in front of a golf course simulator.
“And not a woman in sight…” one person commented on The Aussie Corporate’s Instagram post about the office.
“I think it must be a male-dominated workplace,” posted another.
In a social media post, 26 Degrees, which offers “expertise, technology, integrity and a uniquely Australian spirit to drive tailored financial solutions,” promoted its new global headquarters in Sydney.
Another shot shows two men playing table tennis in front of a curtained lounge, while other images show a racing car set up next to a pinball machine and a man playing with an iron in front of a golf course simulator.
“Wow, a frat!” one person posted, referring to American college fraternities made up of single-sex members.
“The most brotherly work environment ever,” one person commented, while another said it “smells like Lynx.”
But Gavin White, CEO of 26 Degrees Group, strongly refutes the suggestion that the Sydney office is a glorified boys’ club.
“The office has been designed with our talented female staff in mind,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Not only do we have cricket, basketball and golf (which the female staff also love, by the way), but we also have a yoga, stretching and Peloton room that is very popular.
‘We have weekly yoga and pilates classes in our gym.
‘We also have fully equipped showers with hygiene supplies and amenities… Dyson hairdressing supplies: hairdryer, flat iron, airwrap, etc.
“I worked for 25 years in American investment banks and absolutely hated their macho, uncontrolled culture,” White said.
‘For me it’s not Australian and now I’ve been lucky enough to build something and do it our way.
‘The comments about it being a boys’ club atmosphere is exactly what we were trying to avoid.’
“Not only do we have cricket, basketball and golf (which the female staff also love, by the way), but we also have a yoga, stretching and Peloton room which is hugely popular,” group chief executive Gavin White told Daily Mail Australia.
“Comments about it being a boys’ club atmosphere are exactly what we’re trying to avoid,” Mr White said.
White said the company employs about 70 to 80 people at its North Sydney headquarters, including about 30 women. About 60 per cent of employees are aged 28 or younger. The company also has offices in London, Tokyo and Cyprus.
He said North Sydney’s well-equipped workspace is just one part of a culture to attract and retain talented employees, highlighting that the flexibility to work just two days in the office, annual leave carryovers, different types of paid leave and mental health initiatives for staff were equally important.
The CEO also said the publicity surrounding the new office, both positive and negative, has had an unexpected benefit.
“We’ve never had so many applications in the last week… an influx of applications, particularly for our internship program that starts in December,” he said.
“I’m glad people criticize us because I’m proud of what we’ve done.”
