Standard Chartered increases community engagement
Employees to get three volunteering days per year
August 19 2010, United Arab Emirates -Standard Chartered has announced today that it will increase the opportunity for employees to volunteer during working hours providing its staff with three 'volunteer days' per year, in addition to their annual leave. Standard Chartered's decision reinforces its commitment to contribute positively to the economies and communities where it operates, a key part of its 'Here for good' brand promise. In addition, the Bank is organising several initiatives during the Holy month to assist the less fortunate.
The potential impact is significant as Standard Chartered employs 75,000 people world-wide, 2400 of which are in the UAE. Since 2007, employees have donated US$18 million worth of time to community projects across Standard Chartered's footprint. In 2009, combined volunteering days amounted to 73 years' of employee time.
Commenting on the new initiative, Steve Bertamini, Standard Chartered Group Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for Consumer Banking said: "Volunteering allows employees to make a unique contribution to the local causes that they support. This helps us as an organisation to forge stronger relationships with our communities and demonstrate our positive intentions as a brand."
Deanna Othman, Head of Premium Banking and the Head of Diversity and Inclusion in the UAE said:
"Standard Chartered is the first bank in the country to encourage its employees to donate time to have a positive impact on the UAE Community. We are continuously looking out for volunteering opportunities which come in line with the causes that the Bank supports. This increase in volunteering days comes in line with the Bank's global aspirations reflected by its brand promise, Here for good."
This year, Standard Chartered UAE has been particularly focused on working with and volunteering for four charities: Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs, Dubai Woman and Children's Foundation, Rashid Pediatric Centre and the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi.
Employees are free to decide how they want to spend their volunteering time. The Bank's online volunteering site matches employees' area of interest or skills to the needs of local community projects. Standard Chartered also encourages employees to donate time to its own global community investment programmes, including:
- Goal – a programme that empowers young women through team sports and education in life skills and financial literacy
- Seeing is Believing - a unique partnership between the Bank, the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness and local NGOs to deliver eye care for 20 million people in deprived communities
For further information please contact:
Haya Mashhood
Head, Corporate Affairs
Standard Chartered Bank
Qatar
Tel: +974 4248450
Fax: +974 4248111
Mobile: +974 5847178
Email: Haya.Mashhood@sc.com
Standard Chartered – leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international bank, listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets and earns around 90 per cent of its income and profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank's growth in recent years.
With 1700 branches and outlets in more than 70 markets, Standard Chartered offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for more than 75,000 staff. The bank is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and aims for the highest standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. This heritage and these values are expressed in its brand promise, 'Here for good'.
For more information on Standard Chartered, please visit www.standardchartered.com