More than 100 bankers have found out that they will be fired, from a “regrettable” email sent to a large bank
Man at the office, working on the laptop (conceptual image), photo: Andri Iemelianenko / Alamy / Profimedia Images
ANZ, one of the largest banks in Australia, apologized and offered psychological counseling for over 100 experienced bankers after they were mistaken to be dismissed through emails that asked them to return their laptops, reports the Financial Times.
The Australian bank sent the automatic emails on Wednesday before the deadline. Later, on the same day, he organized an online meeting with the employees to confirm that the people who had received them will lose their jobs.
“Unfortunately, these emails indicate a departure date for some of our colleagues before we have managed to communicate the result of the process,” said Bruce Rush, interim director of the ANZ retail division, in an email subsequently sent to employees.
“I deeply regret the suffering that this situation could have caused. Please know that we are committed to treating each colleague with dignity and respect as we go through this process,” added Rush obtained by the journalists from FT.
The mistake occurs in the context in which Nuno Mates, a former director of the HSBC banking giant, is trying to print a new direction to the Bank of Australia. He has taken over the position of ANZ CEO in May this year and is expected to announce a strategic restructuring in October.
“Revolting” dismissals, accuses the bankers' union
The bank in Australia has faced in recent years a number of scandals, including an investigation into alleged manipulations of bond prices and inadequate behaviors on the stock market trading.
ANZ intended to inform the staff about the dismissals next week. A bank spokesman said that the institution “apologized unconditionally to the affected employees.”
The Union of the Financial Sector, which represents the financial employees, transmitted that it was contacted by members in connection with emails, which caused “panic and suffering”.
“It is a revolting manner in which the workers find out about the dismissals-by a wrong email, instead of a respectful conversation,” said the union president, Wendy Streets.
“These errors are the direct result of the chaotic rhythm of the changes imposed by the new general manager of ANZ,” she said.
