New AWARE president disregarded DBS staff code of conduct twice

April 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Channel News Asia, Straits Times

Straits Times, 17 April 2009
ST link

DBS tells why it rebuked Josie Lau
Bank holding an internal review over her conduct
By Wong Kim Hoh

A DAY after becoming president of Singapore’s leading women’s group, Ms Josie Lau found herself in hot water at work.

DBS Bank, where she is a vice-president, is conducting an internal review over how she disregarded its advice against taking on the top post at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

On Wednesday night, shortly after Ms Lau, 48, announced that she was the new president, the bank issued a statement making clear that it had told her not to take that position.

The public rebuke shocked not only Aware members who have been dealing with a string of dramatic events recently, but also others who thought it unfair for the bank to say Ms Lau had too much on her plate at work to take on a voluntary position.

Yesterday, DBS Bank revealed that Ms Lau – its vice-president for consumer banking group cards and unsecured loans – had breached its staff code of conduct twice in recent weeks.

She did not tell the bank before running for a spot on the Aware executive committee, revealing that only two weeks after the March 28 annual general meeting (AGM). Yet, the bank decided to support her carrying on as an Aware exco member.

That AGM saw Aware’s leadership change unexpectedly when a group of new members showed up and defeated veterans.

Then new president Claire Nazar quit suddenly.

Ms Lau did not tell DBS that she was keen to assume the post.

DBS said it was only on Wednesday afternoon – just hours before the exco was due to pick the new president – that she made known her intentions.

‘We reviewed her request and subsequently informed her that while the bank continued to support her involvement in Aware, we could not support her intention to run for president, given the demands associated with the top post of a leading advocacy group in Singapore,’ a spokesman said.

DBS is upset that Ms Lau ignored a code of conduct that applied to all staff.

‘We are disappointed that Josie knowingly disregarded DBS’ staff code of conduct twice. Such an attitude is not one that DBS, or any other organisation, can condone in a leader,’ the spokesman said.

Ms Lau was uncontactable yesterday. Exco member Lois Ng said Ms Lau was the only Aware official allowed to respond to media queries, but she was going through ‘a difficult period’.

The turn of events left some incredulous Aware members asking if they would witness the election of a third new president soon.

Former Aware vice-president Margaret Thomas thought Ms Lau might now have to choose between her job and Aware.

She found DBS’ public rebuke of Ms Lau most unusual and it made her wonder. ‘Are there any other reasons for DBS to be concerned about her prominent role at Aware?’ she asked.

The leadership change at Aware has created a buzz, with concerns over what the new team is planning and its views on various issues, including homosexuality.

Last year, DBS Bank drew protests from some customers upset that it had chosen the group Focus on the Family as the beneficiary for a charity drive.

Customers pointed out that the charity, and its American parent body, took a conservative Christian stand against abortion and homosexuals.

The Straits Times learnt this week that Ms Lau’s division was given the job of recommending a charity for DBS to support. Neither she nor the bank would comment on that.

Meanwhile, a group of Aware veterans have called for an extraordinary general meeting (EOGM), possibly to table a vote of no confidence in the new leadership.

And last night, The Straits Times learnt that former Nominated Member of Parliament and two-term Aware president Braema Mathi had been told by the new team that she was no longer in charge of a committee working on a report about women in Singapore.

Ms Thomas said: ‘Every day, there are more and more questions and the new team has yet to clear the air or speak to members. It’s now even more pressing that we have the EOGM.

DBS “reviewing” employee’s appointment as AWARE president

Channel News Asia, 17 April 2009
CNA link

SINGAPORE: As observers reacted with surprise to DBS Bank’s declaration that it did not support employee Josie Lau’s appointment as president of a local women’s advocacy group, the bank on Thursday further revealed that it was “reviewing the matter internally” – after she had “knowingly disregarded” its staff code of conduct twice.

Said a bank spokesperson: “Such attitude is not one that DBS, or any other organisation, can condone in a leader.”

Ms Lau, who is the bank’s vice-president of consumer banking group cards and unsecured loans, was on Wednesday night named the new Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) chief.

Shortly after, DBS issued a statement implying that Ms Lau had gone against its wishes in taking up the post.

Shedding more light on this on Thursday, DBS revealed that Ms Lau had informed the bank on April 13 that she had been appointed to the AWARE executive committee – more than two weeks after the deed was done on March 28.

“She had not sought prior approval for this appointment and thereby breached the staff code of conduct. Nevertheless, DBS made a concession and agreed to support her involvement as exco member,” said the bank spokesperson.

Then, early this week, she told the bank she was aiming for the top post.

The bank reviewed this request and informed her that while it continued to support her involvement in AWARE, “we could not support her intent to run for president, given the demands associated with the top post of a leading advocacy group in Singapore”.

“Banks worldwide are facing very challenging times and her role as VP in the credit card space today is even more challenging, given the environment we are in,” added the spokesperson. “We are disappointed that Josie knowingly disregarded DBS’ staff code of conduct twice.”

Ms Lau declined to comment, with an AWARE spokesperson saying she would speak to the media once things settled down.

The bank’s public rebuke has puzzled some. It was one thing for firms to express concern in private over employees’ involvement in external activities, and quite another to do so publicly, particularly for a senior staff, they felt.

“At the very senior management level, there should be adequate communication about such involvements… In this case, there may be some other issues of which we may be unaware,” said Singapore Human Resource Institute executive director David Ang.

“For DBS to issue such a statement, (the situation) must be of some gravity.”

TODAY understands that under the Banking Act, all bank employees must declare their involvement with external organisations, such as NGOs, to avoid a potential clash of interest.

Banks contacted confirmed the industry practice. Said OCBC spokesperson Koh Ching Ching: “Financial institutions also need to know of potential conflicts for any possible supplier-buyer situations, even for accounts held by non-profit organisations or charities with us.”

The bank respects staff’s “own assessment of their own abilities to balance work, family and community service activities”; still, they are encouraged to discuss their external commitments “if they need advice”.

Within the NGO sector, Ms Lau – who joined DBS in 2004 after 15 years of developing and marketing events with the Singapore Tourism Board – is not alone in incurring employers’ dissatisfaction.

One NGO veteran who declined to be named told TODAY, his employers have from time to time “pressured” him to give up his commitments.

Dr Geh Min, who stepped down last year as Nature Society president, said it ultimately boils down to the trust between employer and staff.

“It’s right for a company to expect commitment and loyalty… it’s up to the employee to convince the company he can juggle (the demands),” said the ophthalmologist who runs her own clinic.

Mr Ang said that even among companies with a policy against staff holding external appointments, most are flexible on the matter.

Citing his own experience as president of the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation, Singapore Cable Manufacturer chairman Renny Yeo feels such involvement would further hone a person’s leadership and organisational skills, which would in turn benefit the company.

But the bottomline, said Mr Yeo, is whether the company feels the staff is up to the balancing act.

The mantra at DBS, it seems, is no different.

Stressing that the bank “takes pride in” the many DBS employees who are involved in community, charity or volunteer groups in their personal capacity, the spokesperson reiterated that these staff “had sought and obtained prior approval to do so”.

Approval is granted on a case-by-case basis, “depending on the demands of the proposed external appointment and the job responsibilities the individual holds in the bank”.

Tags: AWARE