Through the independent counselling
and advisory service (ICAS), we have established
a confidential counselling service to provide
counselling for employees and their immediate
families for a wide variety of personal and familial
issues, including those relating to trauma, relationships,
stress, health and HIV/Aids. In addition, ICAS
provides professional assistance on all people
matters to our managers. To date, we estimate
that about 20% of our employees have taken advantage
of the ICAS benefits. Feedback indicates that
most of the employees using the ICAS require counselling
for personal relationships, legal matters and
financial issues.
Approximately 400 employees were appointed throughout
South Africa to promote an enhanced awareness
of HIV and Aids in the bank and the communities
in which they operate.
In order to improve the health of employees
and to reduce sick leave and medical-aid costs,
our corporate health team is involved in piloting,
with Bankmed (the group’s medical aid), a managed
care programme with employees whose sick leave
history suggests a persistent medical problem.
If the pilot is successful, it will be implemented
in all of our South African operations.
At our head office building in Johannesburg,
where one-third of our employees work, we provide
beneficial facilities, including a health and
fitness gym, doctors’ rooms, a pharmacy, a canteen
and a restaurant.
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