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Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements

The following table illustrates that 2,803 or 64.75% of the total cadre of the Bank’s Sri Lankan operation as at December 31, 2011 were covered by Collective Agreements.

Minimum Notice for Operational Change Implementation

There is no time frame specified under the Collective Agreements pertaining to advance notice on anticipated operational changes. Major operational changes are implemented only after consultation with employee focus groups, employees’ representative organisations and shareholders. This policy helps promote mutual understanding and contributes to transparency.

Occupational Health and Safety

Employee Representation on Health and Safety Committees

The Bank’s Security Department has made arrangements to identify staff from each business or service unit of the Bank and provides them with comprehensive training as to how to act in an emergency such as fire, burglary, air raid, explosion, etc. In addition, fire drills are carried out annually at the Bank’s Head Office and Union Place premises. Feedback is obtained, and all Bank staff are then informed through a formal e-mail communication on lapses observed, together with recommended action plans to remedy the situation. In addition, the intranet site of the Security Department of the Bank has laid down procedures to be followed in case of emergencies. Staff at all levels have access to the intranet site of the Security Department.

All buildings of the Bank are provided with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers together with operating and evacuating instructions. Further, the Bank takes every effort to ensure that the working environment of the Bank is conducive and free from hazardous substances.

During the year 2.58% of the total workforce was trained on above mentioned health and safety arrangements.

Injuries, Occupational Diseases and Fatalities at Work

There were eight accidents reported during the period under review. However, none of these resulted in work-related fatalities. The details of lost days by region and by gender are given below. Lost days count begins on the day after the accident.

Health and Safety Topics Covered in Formal Agreements with Trade Unions

The Bank has no dedicated health and safety officers or department; this responsibility is mainly entrusted to the Human Resources Management Department. In order to effectively address concerns in this area, the Human Resources Management Department often works together with employees’ representative organisations on proposals to senior management regarding measures to create a safer and healthier working environment.

The collective agreements between the Bank and employees’ representative bodies cover several health and safety topics. The most prominent of those concerns VDU (computer monitor) operators. Under this agreement, the Bank allows employees operating VDUs to take short breaks to protect their eyesight. The Bank is also obliged to provide equipment with screens that give clear and stable images, have properly positioned keyboards and are quiet enough in their operation to ensure that ambient noise does not exceed an acceptable level.

Employees aged 40 years and above are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred on outpatient medical examinations, subject to a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per annum. This is a special benefit over and above employees’ entitlements under the medical scheme of the Bank.

Training and Education

Training and Professional Development

The Bank is dedicated to improving the professional competencies and performance of all its employees. In the year under review, the Bank spent a total of Rs. 46.151 Mn. on training and education programmes for employees. All employees are subject to an annual performance review, at which they receive feedback on their performance and their development needs and potential as identified by the reviewers.

Education and Risk Control on Health Issues

The Bank keeps track of such risk commencing from the point of intake, where extensive medical screening of employees occurs. Thereafter, a regular medical regime facilitates the staff to maintain their health standards.

The Bank’s training programmes for Executive Officers include subjects such as handling work-related stress. In instances generating high levels of stress and trauma, affected employees are provided counselling to support their rehabilitation. The Bank in association with the Human Resources Management Department conducts periodic dust and emission tests in relation to certain vulnerable locations across the network.

Safety Training

Two fire-safety training programmes were held during the course of the year.

Safety Training
Programme	No. of Programmes	No. of Participants
Fire Awareness Programme for Group Leaders	1	87
Programme on F.A.F.A. and Practical Fire Demonstration	1	25

Since 2010, the Bank has followed a systematic approach to the identification of high performers among its senior management. This involves a process of ‘talent discussions’, which are conducted annually. Through this exercise, leadership competencies are identified and a pool of talent is created to serve the long term needs of the Bank.

A total of 446 training programmes involving 118,349 person-hours of training were executed during the year. These programmes were categorised as technical, soft skills, overseas training and outsourced training (that is, the attendance of Bank employees at externally-held training programmes).