‘How we’re improving Fidelity Bank’s workforce quality’

The management of Fidelity Bank PLC has said the bank’s ongoing reform is helping to position the workforce to raise performance.

This was stated in a strategy document obtained from the 34-year-old institution which indicated that it is committing to developing an engaging and productive work environment for its workforce especially as the COVID-19 pandemic rages since 2020.

According to the report, one of the ways the bank is repositioning its workforce is by encouraging members of staff to regularly study and take professional certification examinations.

The report citing the Managing Director and CEO, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, stated that Fidelity Bank grants employees study leaves as well as reimburses them for successfully completed certification courses. This is in addition to several capacity building programmes it organises for staff.

There is the Policy Familiarization Programme which builds subject matter experts in business areas, and the bank is using this to build a knowledgeable staff database.

The other scheme is Project Alpha. This capacity building initiative enables employees to be put through a learning and development framework.

Beside the capacity building programmes, the strategy report notes that there are financial support packages from the bank for its employees in their time of need. For instance, Fidelity provides wedding grants to employees getting married and also supports members of its workforce who have to handle funeral costs with cash donations.

There is the Essential Commodities (Essenco) package, an annual welfare scheme for the staff just as the bank also includes staff in the profit/dividend sharing process. Through these initiatives, the bank said it provides relief to its employees as well as increases its workforce’s financial net worth amongst others.

Another section of the strategic support scheme of the bank is the annual medical check-ups for its workforce while also running an insurance package with Health Management Organisations (HMOs).

Commenting on these schemes for the workforce, the MD, Onyeali-Ikpe said: “While we are ultimately focused on our financial performance, we are equally concerned about the men and women who contribute to the bottom line daily.

“We understand that an organisation is only as good as the calibre of staff in its workforce and we are therefore devoted to attracting, growing and retaining the best talents. We know this is one of the easiest ways to ensure long-term sustainability of our business and would not spare any cost in ensuring our employees are safe and thriving”.