Responsibility as an employer

The efforts and enthusiasm of our employees are the foundation for the success of VP Bank Group. Therefore we feel it is important for us to support our employees individually. 

VP Bank recognises its responsibility as an employer, as it creates modern and attractive working conditions. Each person’s ability to perform depends as much on motivation and health as the work environment. VP Bank seeks to attract and retain the best talent by offering attractive career opportunities and extensive continuing education options.

Motivated and well-trained employees exhibit a service-oriented approach, competency and openness to their clients. That requires, among other factors, a work environment in which all employees feel welcome and are encouraged. VP Bank offers them the space to develop and implement their own ideas. It motivates them to ­perform at an above-average level while offering future prospects as well as training and continuing education possibilities. By creating and securing skilled jobs, VP Bank allows people to make a living and enjoy a high quality of life. 

With the move to new offices at our Zurich and Luxembourg sites and the renovation of our head office building at the corporate headquarters in Vaduz, we have created an up-to-date work environment with attractive office space for our employees in 2018. The entire workplace is equipped with first-rate infrastructure and satisfies the latest technological requirements. 

More information is available in the section “Employees of VP Bank” on page 43.

VP Bank promotes the sustainable use of tap water and supports drinking water projects in developing countries. “Drink & Donate” is a non-profit association that promotes consumption of tap water over bottled water. VP Bank supports the association with a substantial annual contribution. 

8 November 2018 was National Future Day in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. On this day many companies opened their doors to schoolchildren in grades 5 to 7 to give them an opportunity to discover the working world up close and in person. The National Future Day thus helps young boys and girls to broaden their horizons as regards professional choices and prospects and to chart their own futures. 

In 2018, VP Bank’s Vaduz site participated in National Future Day for the sixth time, while VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd also participated for the second time. Some 36 youths between the ages of 10 and 13 had the opportunity to spend a day learning about the working world with a chaperone. They were given a lot of information about VP Bank, learned the processes in the respective departments and were very interested to learn about the different types of jobs in a bank. The high point was the visit to the vault and the trading room, the dismantling and rebuilding of a PC and a video conference between the Vaduz, Triesen and Zurich offices. 

In Liechtenstein, the VP Bank Sport Club was founded in 1974 to encourage employees to participate in sports and socialize. The club organises numerous activities that are available either free of charge or at significantly discounted prices. These activities include spinning, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, tennis, nordic walking, bowling, golf, mini-golf, ping pong, hiking, Pilates, self-defence courses and sport weekends. 

Much information is available on VP Bank’s intranet on the topics “Fit in the Workplace”, “Promoting Health through Movement” and “Healthy Eating”. Stress checks and ergonomic tips for desk jobs with computers as well as accident prevention are among the topics. Employees receive rebates on the purchase of skis and snowboards and other outdoor gear as well as discounts on massages, fitness centres, chiropractic treatment, dance lessons and eyeglasses for the workplace. VP Bank in Liechtenstein also offers its employees the opportunity to get a massage during the workday. The massages are specifically designed to address employee needs and problems in the office. 

The Volunteering Day introduced in late 2015 continues to generate considerable interest. Since it was introduced, more than 100 employees have performed charitable work in the social, educational or ecological/environmental fields. The Bank gives each employee one day per year to participate in the charitable work. The feedback from both the participating employees as well as the institutions on the receiving end of this volunteer work has been overwhelmingly positive. 

VP Bank supports the “Villa Wirbelwind“ (“Whirlwind“) project in Liechtenstein, a children’s day care centre jointly operated by Liechtenstein banks. The Whirlwind nursery provides high-quality, professional childcare, thereby creating ­optimal conditions for reconciling family and work life. 

At Villa Whirlwind, children between the ages of four months and the start of kindergarten whose parents are employees of member banks and the Liechtenstein Banking Association may attend the daycare centre, regardless of their hometown.

Diversity and equal opportunity create a solid foundation for the development of closer relations between VP Bank and its employees and its external stakeholders. VP Bank affirms diversity at every employee and management level. Such diversity at the company ensures that the decision-makers are put in a position where they engage in constructive questioning are more open to innovative ideas. The Board of Directors has focused on this issue and prepared a skills analysis for future challenges. With two female Board members from the Legal/Compliance and HR/Business Development areas, these skills were expanded in optimal fashion in 2017. 

Employees and managers are hired strictly on the basis of their qualifications without regard for age, gender or nationality. VP Bank offers all employees equal opportu­nities for employment and promotions. The assessment of an employee’s work performance is carried out in a fair, objective and transparent manner. 

VP Bank Group’s employee base also includes individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. Whenever possible, employees with long-term illnesses are reintegrated into the work flow with professional support. 

At 31.12.2018, VP Bank had 41.48 per cent female employees (2017: 42.4 per cent). As from January 2017, a woman is also part of Group Executive Management.