We all know the answer – except the leader, apparently…
Misleading employee well-being surveys at Danske Bank were one of the main topics at the general meeting, which was also marked by the election to the district board and a strong desire to debate.
”I just have to say: We are in a good place compared to other banks.
At general meetings in other parts of Finansforbundet, we have heard from the first hand about the state of things from the employees' perspective. And this provides good opportunities for comparing across the financial sector.
Danske Bank offers plenty of opportunities for further training, management is close to the employee and more accessible, and Danske Bank is a leading player within, for instance, the use of Gen AI.
This will not, however, stop us from looking critical, if Danske Bank does not live up to agreements entered into”
This was said form chairman of Finansforbundet I Danske Bank, Kirsten Ebbe Brich, to approximately 180 attendees to the general meeting at Finansforbundet in Danske Bank at Munkebjerg Hotel near Vejle last week.
What you want to hear
One of the areas where the debate was most intense was the Culture & Engagement Survey and how the results are used and presented to the employees.
”I'm tired of looking at Headlines how happy Danske Bank employees are. This does not match the reality we experience”, was said during the debate.
One after another stood up at the general meeting and told about bad experiences with the well-being measurements.
Several had experienced an excessively positive team score on their well-being relative to the real life situation in a team. One might also say that the leader had pointed out in advance that everything below 8 was a bad score.
”The survey is just being filled out, so we don’t get too much out, no matter what the well-being really is. For no one is bothered to get through a process that ends up with nothing.”
As someone explained, it goes through the team if your score was too low and the well-being survey shows too heavy workload:
”Then we have to go back to it. Sit at meetings where the leader asks: ”It is not so good. How are we going to solve this?” Everyone knows the answer, except the boss, apparently. Because fewer tasks or more colleagues, choose for yourself.”
Where is HR?
There were also repeated reports of lack of response from HR when a well-being measurement is in some places at its bottom.
Kirsten Ebbe Brich, commented:
”It sounds crazy. We must look into that.”
She also called on the union representatives to make a fresh effort to get colleagues to answer honestly. For Danske Bank's management, the results are very diligent and the results were apparently misleading.
Battle for the seats
Another subject of debate that made the room bubble and seep was home work, which in several other banks is under pressure from employers. Now, Danske Bank employees must come to a meeting for 3-4 days a week.
Several pointed out that it would be more appropriate for the rules to be set for each team rather than centrally.
”It is about making the most of it both we and the bank. The leader can see from his working group how best to solve this,” said a woman and continued:
”Someone has difficulty managing the day at home and remembering lunch. I myself have difficulty with the sound level at work and have found out how much I can reach at home. But I can also feel that some are tired of not being able to work as much at home as others.”
Another found that there was a fight for the seats where he came in:
”There are not enough desks. If I come and my colleagues are divided on several floors, it may also be of equal importance.”
A regular dialogue about working at home is important, and it must not become too rigid systems that do not leave room for individual needs, the majority seemed to agree on.
More control
One of the participants asked the district board to pay attention to the increased registration.
”We hear from management that they are concerned with more modern management. In my area we see the opposite. There is more control than previous and more registration because managers need data. It does not give much motivation or good well-being.”
Kirsten Ebbe Brich promised that the district board will follow up on the matter.
Less nice?
How is Finansforbundet in the future to be more fierce and a less friendly union?
It was one of the questions vice chairman of Finansforbundet, Steen Lund Olsen, received after his presentation.
”We must agree when we press the button,” said the vice president and explained that Finansforbundet is experiencing very different reactions from members.
”If we say, ”just be quiet, sweet employer”, then there is a lot that responds and does not like it. If we say the opposite, then there are 50 who write that we must now tighten up.”
In his presentation, Steen Lund Olsen talked about, among other things, the changed world after President Trump, who – as many people will know – has seen himself evil on the diversity agenda. It remains important to Finansforbundet, promised the vice chairman, who also received congratulations for his recent special award for his multi-annual work on diversity and inclusion.
He also talked about how important and challenging it is to do more for contract staff and about the union's work to secure more members in the context of current mergers.
Election to the district board
The sentiment and the surrounding world of the general meeting were noted that the district board would go through the election to the board. At the same time, the number of seats was reduced from ten to eight.
Chairman Kirsten Ebbe Brich was re-elected because there were no opponents and received standing applause.
The ten candidates for the remaining seven seats were given 3 minutes in turn to argue their case.
The new district board in Finansforbundet I Danske Bank is (from left):
Pia Staal Christensen, Gunver Sommer, Lars Aabling-Thomsen, Kirsten Ebbe Brich (chairman), Kirsten Hjelm Lund, Dorte Bielefeldt, Peter Gaardsdal Sørensen og Frank Fredslund Nielsen.
Mads Semeret, Thomas Nygaard and Benedicte Holmbo Kjølby were not elected to the district board.
Vice chairman Bente Bang and members of the board Susanne Arboe and Ida Schroder did not stand for re-election.
Benedicte Holmbo Kjølby, Thomas Nygaard and Annette Sørevik were elected alternate members of the district board.