Employee diversity

Our commitment to diversity includes a range of initiatives that help our employees to work in an understanding, flexible and creative environment.

Employee Resource Groups

We support associations that represent the common interests of our employees. These provide support and development possibilities opportunities that help us to keep the best people and are a key way that employees can be fully engaged and aligned with the business. In the US, these associations include the African American Alliance, the Asian Employee Support Group, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender group and Lesbian Support Network and the Hispanic/Latino Network.

Flexible work options

Our flexible working policy enables our people to maintain a positive work-life balance and address personal and professional needs. The initiative is managed locally and includes part-time and reduced hours, home working and job sharing.

Mentoring
We use mentoring to give our employees the opportunity to learn from a more experienced colleague. Again, this is part of our plan to keep the best people.

Recruitment of female and minority employees

We are committed to equal opportunities through our recruitment of employees that represent all people within society, including women and ethnic minorities. Whilst we have a good representation of women in management positions we recognise that we need to increase the proportion of female employees at the most senior levels in the organisation, and we have set an aspiration, for example, to have more than 25% female representation on the Board of Directors by 2013. You can read more about our employees' diversity in gender and ethnicity in ourCorporate Responsibility Report.

Talent review and succession planning

We place a high priority on our ability to develop talent and enthusiasm in our employees. Through succession planning we can identify and encourage our high-potential employees and ensure that they have a career path that meets their and our needs.

Training and development

By providing our employees with an environment that encourages learning and development, we can allow people to realise their potential. Activities such as on-the-job training, web-based learning and self-study are part of our training and development programme.

Everyone in the bank delivers the brand - it's the way we respond to and treat customers, both internal and external To deliver a truly world class brand we need to get better at living our values and behaviour at all levels of the bank;

Understanding the importance of the each individual's contribution to business success Maximising their potential and inspiring them Creating a framework of values and behaviours that act as guidance Including these ideas within the basic principles that define the organisation.

So what does a diverse organisation look like?

A diverse organisation is one that invites, embraces and manages difference in the changing workforce to gain the best from its people and to provide the best service to its customers. It encourages the breaking down of barriers of the past to look at things in a new way, to find effective business and customer solutions. In such organisations diversity is regarded as a competitive differentiator, in both employment and customer markets. Characteristics of such an organisation include:

Recognition of diversity as a business issue. Every level of the organisation holds responsibility not just HR or Marketing

The existence of a widely accepted and practised set of values that ensure the respect and dignity of all An environment where the insights of diverse groups are sought and welcomed; where people are not alienated or sidelined because they don't 'fit' into a set expectation Innovation and creativity are rewarded and recognised A climate where people feel that their background and lifestyle does not affect perceptions of them as a professional, or affect their opportunities for development Flexible working practices are made available, as there is an appreciation that not everyone can and will work the same hours and in the same way. This removes disadvantage and discrimination to participation in work The diverse workforce is visible at every level of the organisation and in every business area.