The FINANCIAL — It is the common perception that to be a bank employee means strictly defined working hours, an early wake-up, strict dress code and professional behaviour. Sometimes such rules scare job seekers away, except for those who enjoy living according to an orderly regime. We tried to find out what the exact regulations are at Georgian banks to help jobseekers compare those to other companies they might be working for.
As a rule operators at banks and some other staff members have limited access to the internet. So if you have decided to work in a banking institution you can forget about chatting online and using social networks during work hours.
At KSB Bank employees can only visit webpages which are related to their responsibilities,” Gvantsa Gusharashvili, KSB Bank, told The FINANCIAL.
Though TBC Bank workers still have standard internet access at the front desk and in the back office as well, that provides mainly email services.
“Because of the needs of an effective working process, we are currently improving internet access for all bank personnel,” said Natia Gotsadze from TBC Bank.
With just a few slight differences, the dress code in all Georgian banks is similar. First impressions count. No jeans, no beard, no tattoos – the dress code is a very important part of the inner regulation of the banks. If you look and behave like a highly trained and well-groomed professional, you will win the respect and loyalty of valued clients.
Women tellers at the front desk wear a jacket and a tie, or only tie of a specific colour, which identifies their company. Trousers and closed toe shoes are mandatory. Workers must follow a classic style. Any visible tattoos on arms must be covered by their shirt. Take out any visible body piercings. Ladies are not allowed to wear transparent, sparkly, motley clothes or show any décolleté. As for men thick, knitted sweaters with logos and high throats are not allowed. White socks, shorts, ‘skinny’ or colourful trousers are also against the rules.
“Dress code control is the responsibility of the directors of departments and branches. They have the right to comment on employees’ attire so that it complies with the Bank’s standards. Employees of TBC Bank must wear clothes corresponding to the business environment at the front desk. There exist some departments in the bank, like the back office, where there isn’t a strict dress code,” stressed Gotsadze.
Two years ago the rules were the same for front desk and back office workers, from Monday to Friday. As the staff of the back office have no contact with the customers and meetings are very rare with the personnel of other offices, the rules were changed.
At KOR Standard Bank rules are comparatively liberal.
“We have an exception for our employees on Saturday. They can wear more casual clothing, even jeans, on that day,” said Gvantsa Gusharashvili, KSB Bank.
“It isn’t obligatory for male workers in our bank to be clean-shaven. There are no restrictions regarding one’s beard or long hair, if both look nice and tidy. Although hair must be bound,” added Gusharshvili.
“Each worker of the bank has to obey the rules. We don’t make any exception for religious or ethnic minorities,” said Gotsadze.
Be on time and of course sober – that’s an inevitable and inexcusable rule for each worker at the bank.
“We strictly control the working hours of our employees. Being late is completely unacceptable and our management have sanctions to eradicate such cases. The first time we give just a warning to the employee. If this is repeated though then we must fire him/her from the bank,” said Nino Bendeliani, VTB Bank of Georgia.
“If the employee doesn’t come on time, more than three times a month, we cut off a significant amount of his salary,” Natia Gotsadze, TBC Bank, told The FINANCIAL.
“Respecting working hours and being on time are included in the general discipline norms of the Bank. But we also understand if there are exceptional circumstances for a worker being late to work,” said Tekla Gurielize, Procredit Bank of Georgia.
Successive customer service is a complex process, with the management leading, as, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Executive Director of Bank’s Association says, Georgian Banks are actually carrying out a rebranding policy. They try hard to offer their customers all positive elements in the level of their customer service and don’t make customers wait a long time. Many banks have guide assistants in every branch ready waiting with a helpful smile.
Workers at the front desk of TBC Bank can take a one hour break according to their planned timetable. The other employees in the branch offices, as well as in the head office have a break from 14:00 to 15:00, according to Gotsadze.
“As for smoking, we don’t regulate or have time restrictions on this, a worker can smoke any time he finds a couple of free minutes,” said Gotsadze.
Neither KSB nor VTB Bank set restrictions for coffee or smoking breaks.
“Coffee and smoking break are neither regulated nor restricted. We have special smoking zones at the offices. Workers can arrange smoking or coffee breaks according to their work and free time,” noted Bendeliani, VTB Bank.
The management and executive systems of Georgian banks consider classic and decent dressing to be adequate and no need in setting up any uniform style at the banks.
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