If Lloyds and other banks can do it, so can TSB. Since Lloyds introduced “essential banking” the number of branch transaction has fallen by 80%. TSB has been more relaxed about what constitutes “essential banking” but members are telling us that the number of transactions has fallen dramatically over the last week.
From this week, the largest branches in Lloyds are introducing shifts with staff divided into two teams working one week on and one week off. In some of the smaller branches staff are working 2 days on and 2 days off. Banking Consultants are being given new laptops to enable them to work from home helping Connect customers. We understand that in Santander staff in the largest branches are working one week on and two weeks off.
Why does TSB still maintain the position that it wants as many front-line staff as possible still working in bank sites rather than allowing them to work home, even if they’re just doing training?
Jo Harris, Managing Director, Lloyds Community Bank said: “I want to be clear that we do not intend to call on colleagues to travel to work unless it is absolutely necessary to provide an essential service”. Yet it appears TSB is determined to do the exact opposite, calling staff into bank sites even though they have got nothing essential to do or what they are doing could quite easily be done from home.
Wales Introduces Coronavirus Law To Protect Workers.
Employers in Wales will be breaking the law from tomorrow if they do not make sure that staff are able to maintain the 2-metre social distancing rule. The law requires employers to take “all reasonable actions” to comply with the 2-metre rule and that could include closing down offices. The union and its lawyers are currently reviewing the new law. If we feel TSB is breaking the law in offices and branches then we will not hesitate in using it to protect our members.
The First Minister, Mark Drayford, said: “It is simply saying to employers they must put the needs of their workforce first. Their health and wellbeing must be top of the agenda”.
Saturday Working, Really
In our last Newsletter we asked Carol Anderson, Director, Branch Banking, if it was right that part-time staff should be asked to make up their Saturday hours during the week. We don’t need an answer because it appears Ms Anderson told line management that’s what they had to do in the first place. In a ‘Branch Manager – Corona Check-In’ line managers are asked to confirm that they have discussed with part-time staff either amending working patters or working from home to make up hours lost on a Saturday. That’s outrageous.
Isn’t it interesting that when working from home suits TSB it can be done at the drop of a hat but when it suites members of staff it’s impossible?
Irrespective of contractual rights, the branches were closed by the bank and part-time staff should not be expected to make up any hours on days they would not normally work. Many of those part-time staff will have worked lots of unpaid overtime during the IT meltdown.
Transparency Needed
TSB needs now to issue a clear, unambiguous statement of its policy on who should or shouldn’t be at work and we need to know that each of the key players: Debbie Crosbie, Carol Anderson and Robin Bulloch is committed to that policy.
Policies cascaded down the management line and not made known to staff are bound to arouse suspicion that the Bank actually does want everyone in work, whether staff have essential work to do or not. Leaving branch managers in doubt about what they should do, just shifts to them a responsibility, for which people up above them are paid very large salaries indeed.
Members with any comments or issues they would like us to deal should contact the Union’s Advice Team on 01234 716029 (choose Option 1).