The Fee Speech – A Bold Call for Fairness on International Women’s Day
Alright, let’s talk about something that’s been happening year after year—International Women’s Day (IWD). A day meant to celebrate and uplift women. But here’s the catch: while companies put on big events to show their support, they often ask women to speak… for free. Yep, you heard that right. Women, who already contribute an estimated $10.8 trillion in unpaid labor globally each year, are being asked to give more of their time and expertise—without compensation.
In Australia, women take on around 70% of unpaid labor , making this an even bigger issue. And that’s exactly why Clemenger BBDO, in collaboration with Less Than 10% F*ck That , decided to take a stand with their latest initiative— The Fee Speech . It’s a pre-made presentation that women can use when they’re asked to speak at IWD events without pay . Instead of staying silent or feeling pressured to accept, they can now use The Fee Speech to educate these organizations on why women’s work should be valued and paid for —not just on IWD, but every single day.
To launch the campaign, Clemenger BBDO teamed up with award-winning journalist and social commentator Jane Caro . Known for never holding back, Caro stars in a video calling out corporations that exploit IWD as a way to extract free labor from women . And yes—unlike so many others, she was paid for her time.
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Caro shared her own experiences, revealing that not only has she been asked to speak for free, but on two separate occasions, she was asked to pay for the privilege . That’s right—women are sometimes expected to cover costs just to be part of the conversation. Her message? Women’s work is valuable, which means it deserves payment .
Clemenger BBDO creatives Ellie Dunn and Hugh O’Connor pointed out that this issue has been debated on LinkedIn for years , with women constantly sharing their frustrations about being asked to work for free in professional settings. They hope The Fee Speech will resonate with women everywhere —but more importantly, they want it to hold corporations accountable . Or as Caro puts it, tell them to “bugger off.”
To further drive the message home, the campaign includes a poster that doubles as a speech script , providing women with an easy way to respond when asked to speak for free. Clemenger BBDO’s CCO, Adrián Flores, emphasized the importance of this campaign, saying that at Clems, they aim to spark conversations that Australians care about —and this is certainly a conversation worth having.
Backing the initiative is Less Than 10% F*ck That , a global community dedicated to championing female creative leadership . Founder Mikhaila Warburton highlighted how The Fee Speech aligns perfectly with this year’s IWD theme— Rights, Equality, Empowerment —and serves as a powerful reminder that women’s contributions must be recognized far beyond just one day of the year .
At the end of the day, this is about more than just speeches—it’s about changing the way we value women’s time and expertise . Because appreciation without action? That’s just empty words .
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