Stress claim rejected by ANZ Bank

Claims that an ANZ Bank decision to give staff paid leave to volunteer for charities will mean increased stress levels have been labelled "groundless scaremongering" by the bank.

ANZ Bank said last week that it would give its staff at least one day of paid leave a year to provide volunteer services to charities and community organisations.

It estimated that with close to 4000 ANZ workers, charitable organisations could get about 30,000 volunteer hours a year.

Bank workers' union Finsec says it represents about 2000 ANZ workers, some of whom are having difficulty taking leave because of staffing levels.

Its members were worried that the volunteer scheme could put office staff still at work under more pressure.

ANZ general manager human resources David Laragy said it was worrying that Finsec had tried to scare staff with the prospect of increased workloads when the bank had said it would do whatever was appropriate to make sure the policy worked well for staff.

- NZPA