Employees
We have over 26,000 employees working across the UK, the majority of whom are based in our branches and call centres. Our goal to be the best bank for our customers goes hand-in-hand with our aspiration to be the best place to work for our employees. Creating a flexible workplace that reflects the individual needs of our employees is key to this goal, particularly as around 60% of our workforce are women.
The most important issues that we are working on in relation to our employees is our approach to Inclusion & Diversity, Working with Unions and Health & Safety. An outline of our main actions is detailed below, and further information is available in our CSR Report.
Inclusion & Diversity
Santander believes in equality of opportunity in all areas of employment and business. Selection and promotion is based on the relevant aptitudes, abilities and skills to do the job. We know that employing people from diverse backgrounds adds value to the way we do business. Santander is a member of a number of diversity partnership organisations including:
• Employers' Forum on Age
• Employers' Forum on Disability
• Opportunity Now
• Race for Opportunity
• Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme
We do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, membership or non-membership of a trade union, nationality, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation.
Santander became a signatory to the government's Business Compact in 2011, committing the bank to providing employment opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds.
A copy of our Inclusion & Diversity Policy 2011 can be downloaded here.
Working with our Unions
Santander has a long history of trade union recognition governed by a partnership agreement with Advance and recognition agreements with the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Advance is the independent trade union recognised in the former Abbey and Bradford & Bingley parts of the business and CWU is recognised in the former Alliance & Leicester parts of the business. Both unions are affiliated to the Trade Union Congress.
Health & Safety
We believe healthy employees working in a safe environment enhance our business and the achievement of our objectives. Our Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) provides managers and employees with the guidelines, standards and procedures they need to manage safety effectively within Santander buildings.
We aim to promote the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our employees and undertake a range of activities to support our staff. Our quarterly Health and Lifestyle Update newsletters address a range of issues regarding safety, health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Our employees, and members of their immediate family, have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, a free, confidential telephone helpline available 24/7. Staff can also access face-to-face counselling in appropriate cases.