Darren Boon

Not the first time that Lau had breached the staff code of conduct. 

DBS this evening issued a stinging statement rebuking Josie Lau for flouting the DBS staff code of conduct twice.

“Every year, all employees are required to acknowledge that they will abide by the bank’s policies.  We are disappointed that Josie knowingly disregarded DBS’ staff code of conduct twice,” the spokesperson said.   “Such attitude is not one that DBS, or any other organisation, can condone in a leader.”

In response to TOC queries, DBS spokesperson stated that in accordance to the Bank’s staff code of conduct, employees need to request and receive approval before taking on an external appointment, something which Lau failed to do.    

“Josie informed the bank of her appointment as AWARE Ex-co member on 13 April, over two weeks after she was appointed on 28 March.  She had not sought prior approval for this appointment and thereby breached the staff code of conduct,” the DBS spokesperson said.  “Nevertheless, DBS made a concession and agreed to support her involvement as Ex-co member.”

Lau had informed DBS of her intent to run for President of AWARE early in the week.  After a review, DBS replied to Lau that while DBS will continue to support Lau’s involvement with AWARE, DBS could not support her bid 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,” the spokesperson said. 

The spokesperson pointed out that DBS takes pride in its employees’ pursuit of individual interests and passions outside work such as involvement in various community, charity and volunteer organisations in a personal capacity.  The spokesperson clarified that these employees had sought and obtained prior consent to do so in line with the Bank’s staff code of conduct.    

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

Ms Lau is the Vice President and Head of Marketing, Cards and Unsecured Loans, Consumer Banking Group, and is married to private General Practitioner Dr Alan Chin. Dr Chin is an outspoken advocate of for the continued criminalization of homosexual sex between consenting males.

This comes on the heels of DBS’ controversial support of the anti-gay group Focus of the Family (FOTF) last November.  DBS had held a campaign pledging to contribute up to S$15,000 to FOTF when credit cardholders spend a minimum of $300 during weekends at selected malls between 14 November and 21 December. 

FOTF Singapore is an affiliate of the American FOTF, which is led by the Christian evangelical James Dobson. FOTF USA is a proponent of school sponsored Christian prayer and is staunchly anti-abortion and anti-gay. The money from DBS’ campaign was intended to support FOTF Singapore building of a new learning centre for children with learning disabilities. 

After strong public outcry, DBS rescinded all references of FOTF in its campaign advertising and clarified DBS acceptance of diversity and inclusion. 

DBS is currently conducting an internal review into Josie Lau’s breach of the staff code.

—- 

You May Also Like

Conviction wrong, sentence manifestly excessive: Amos Yee

Teen blogger, Amos Yee, who was sentenced to four weeks’ jail on…

英兰妮:调高消费税 为年轻家庭老年人提供更多援助

总理公署部长兼财政部及教育部第二部长英兰妮周二表示,由于经济状况的不稳定,协助企业创新、开展与建设是目前的首要任务,也连带帮助员工提高技能和掌握新技能。 英兰妮针对2020财政预算案,首次提出三大策略:转型、支持与维持。《联合早报》报道,其三大策略包括推动企业和员工转型、为年轻家庭与老年人提供援助、以及确保财政与环境的可续行,以应对全球经济前景不明朗的挑战。 她表示,该策略源于日益严峻的环境,尤其在面临中美贸易关系的紧张,同时世界也出现深沉而结构性的改变,导致收入不平等状况加剧,引发了世界另一端的动荡与起义。 而新加坡在全球面临严峻挑战的时刻,必须作好完全准备。因此预算案成为了因应挑战中最有利的工具。 英兰妮表示,“我们必须将国家预算视为一项策略性计划,为未来寻找定位。” 她指出,为了确保财政的可续行,需要在2021年至2025年逐步提高消费税(GST),以此为年轻家庭与老年员工持续提供支援,应变放缓现象。 此外,国家安全指出预计也会增加,尽管营业收入以有所成长,但消费需求仍不断超支。英兰妮表示,之所以能够增加社会支出,其主要原因为净投资回报贡献(Net Investment Returns Contribution ,简称NIRC)。 净投资回报贡献自2009年的70亿元,一直增长到2019年的170亿元,其中最大的原因是因为淡马锡控股2015年纳入到净投资回报贡献中。…

Some funding for international students is justified, but $238 million is on the 'high side', says MP Leon Perera

The government spends about $238 million on scholarships and tuition grants for…

老顾客为旧机场路小贩抱不平

一名常光顾旧机场路小贩中心的老顾客,在脸书上载贴文,表示自己和一名相熟小贩攀谈时,后者告知当前小贩面对的艰难处境。 名为Gary Ho的老顾客在得知职总富食客接管后,社会企业管理模式并没提升小贩的营生,甚至可能扼杀小贩文化,在帖文中他提到,一些老小贩可能不堪管理层强制规定长时间工作,可能就此结业,顾客们再也吃不到他们烹制的到底美食。 以下为Gary Ho英语原文大意: “熟识我的人都知道我有多爱旧机场路小贩中心!我把所有外国朋友都带到这里和牛车水市场。 昨日(22日)我到那里,一名相熟小贩告诉我近期的改革正扼杀小贩中心。职总富食客在接管小贩中心后,让小贩们签署以英语书写的可笑法律文件,而且也没有翻译内容给不谙英语的小贩。当小贩们问起内容写什么,这些人却回答“没什么啦”“签就对了”。小贩告诉我,职总富食客就好像请了一批“收数佬”来处理小贩事宜。 怎么可以没有翻译内容就让小贩们签字??? 小贩也提到,他们必须缴交每年近100元保费,为摊位外的公共空间买保险。 为何要让小贩们为小贩中心投保? 之后,清洁费就从每月约300,飙涨至超过500元。我还小时着小贩就在这里营业了。他们见证清洁费从四元起到80元、100元、到300元,最后到现在超过500元。卖打包食物的摊位,其实根本没有什么碗碟好洗,之前的承包商也会通融为清洁费打折。但是当问到职总管理层是否能折扣,就音讯全无。 我理解成本已提高,但这是否是在牟利?如果之前的承包商收300元就做到,怎么还要起清洁费?…