With festivities already starting for Chinese New Year, two of Singapore’s top banks have shown their HR colours with some unusual employee engagement strategies.
On Thursday (4 February), around 10,000 DBS/POSB employees had their February salary credited directly into their account.
This surprise move by the bank marked Li Chun – an auspicious day where many deposit money into their accounts for good luck.
“Over the last few years, we have credited salaries earlier during the Lunar New Year period to help our employees enjoy the festivities of the season even more,” Theresa Phua, DBS Bank Singapore Head of HR, told
The Straits Times.
“This year, we have received feedback that the salary crediting on Li Chun has pleasantly surprised and delighted many employees,” she added.
The bank also handed out a pair of mandarin oranges to staff and organised a CNY bazaar offering food and gifts.
UOB went for a different approach – organising a cook off event where 5,000 hot meals were made for charity.
Around 60 bank employees and clients made the meals on Wednesday (3 February) at the Willing Hearts soup kitchen in the Chai Chee community hub.
With assistance from the kitchen’s volunteers, UOB’s employees were able to pack up and deliver the food to needy and elderly Singaporeans at three of Willing Heart’s distribution centres in time for lunch that day.
Two peaches were also handed out with each meal as symbols for longevity.
“Businessmen contribute to society every day, contribute to the economy, but with Chinese New Year, it’s natural for them to think about the values they embrace every day and express them in a different way,” Jean Khong, senior VP of strategic communications and customer advocacy at UOB Group, told
Channel News Asia.
“Today they are expressing it by giving back to the community, by cooking a lovely festive meal for them.”
From all of us at
HRD, we wish you an auspicious Chinese New Year as well. May the Year of the Monkey be full of prosperity, success and good fortune.
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