Employees
We have over 25,600 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, Developing our People, 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.
A copy of our Inclusion & Diversity Policy 2011 can be downloaded here
Developing Our People
Santander's performance management process is designed to champion a high performing, meritocratic culture that can support managers in effectively managing their people. Santander provides a 'Passport to Successful Performance', which guides staff through what performance management means and the role they play.
Working in partnership
Santander has a long history of trade union recognition governed by a partnership agreement with Advance, the independent trade union that it recognises to act as the voice of Santander UK employees. Within the former Alliance & Leicester parts of the business we also work closely with the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Advance and CWU 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.
Occupational Health
Our occupational health strategy is to identify the range of health risks that may affect employees and to make sure they are effectively managed at the point of generation. This involves managing sickness absence, pre-employment medical screening, working to prevent musculo-skeletal disorders and implementing smoking legislation.