Taking time off to help build a better future

The Banking for Better Days, or B4B for short, are a combination of what used to be the voluntary leave scheme and the two study days allotted under the previous collective labour agreement. The main difference is that these days can now be used for a much broader range of initiatives, says Geertje Vernooij, Reward Consultant with ABN AMRO. “Under the old rules, staff were limited exclusively to doing voluntary work and first had to obtain formal permission from the bank. The B4B days scheme, on the other hand, is based on trust – employees are free to coordinate and plan their leave with the other members of their team and can use these days as they see fit, provided that the aim is to make a contribution to society.”

Practising what you preach

Leave can be used for initiatives in or outside the bank. That means staff can avail themselves of ABN AMRO Foundation to help underprivileged children or join the ABN AMRO Coaches Network, for instance. Another option is to enrol in a training course on sustainability at CIRCL Academy. Outside the bank, the possibilities are endless, ranging from taking part in sponsored or charity runs to doing mini-internships or volunteering to work on projects at organisations like Agriterra . The only criterion is that they make a valuable contribution to society.  “We’re committed to raising awareness of the B4B days among all the bank’s staff so they can really make the most of this opportunity,” says Reward Consultant Nico van Loo. “We’re hoping to launch a movement at the bank in which all of us put our unique talents to work for sustainable, circular or other social initiatives.” “It’s clear that the initiative meets a very real need among staff,” adds Geertje. “We’re also asking our clients to commit to sustainability and to future generations – in other words, practise what you preach. Let’s lead by example as a bank.”

Investing in the future

Employees are allotted B4B days in proportion to the number of hours they work. Those working a forty-hour week are entitled to five B4B days. Nico and Geertje, too, are planning to make good use of their own Banking for Better days. The two previously took along a group of children from disadvantaged backgrounds to the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam for a day out. Geertje says, “I’m planning to give training sessions to help young people at vocational schools learn about entering the workforce. It’s so rewarding. You usually start out with a bunch of sullen teenagers slumped in their chairs. At the beginning, they’d rather be anywhere than in that classroom, but at the end of the day, they’re so enthusiastic. They’re thrilled about what they’ve learned. It’s in ways like this that each and every ABN AMRO employee can truly invest in the future.”