NAB has today given its employees an extra day of annual leave so that they can visit bushfire affected communities and support local businesses.
All 30,000 permanent NAB employees are being given an extra day’s leave in 2020, to take a long weekend or a day-trip anywhere in Australia that has been impacted by recent bushfires.
NAB CEO Ross McEwan said NAB heard calls from colleagues and customers on the enormous economic challenge that bushfire affected communities face and we wanted to take immediate action.
“By giving NAB employees an extra day’s leave, we hope to help businesses such as cafes, restaurants, tour operators, hotels and other accommodation providers to get back on their feet,” Mr McEwan said
“Focussing on the recovery and rebuilding of these communities is critical and this initiative is another way NAB can play a role to support today and in the weeks and months ahead.”
NAB employees will be provided with a list of bushfire affected communities across Australia to visit, ranging from Gippsland in Victoria, the New South Wales south coast, Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills in South Australia and south-east Queensland.
The announcement of an extra day’s leave follows NAB’s commitment to work with the Victorian Government on the Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery program, and hold meetings, events or conferences in a bushfire-affected region during 2020.
NAB’s package of support for the bushfires also includes:
- An expansion to the NAB Volunteering Policy to allow NAB staff to use the two days’ paid volunteer leave to help colleagues and/or customers with relief and recovery activities in the aftermath of a natural disaster, including the recent Australian bushfires.
- A $5 million NAB Disaster Relief fund, which includes $2,000 emergency relief and recovery grants available to impacted personal bank customer and business owners and farmers, and $1 million in donations;
- Up to a three-year deferral of interest and repayments for existing NAB loans – and a commitment not to foreclose upon, or force the sale of collateral of existing loans during that period;
- $1 billion in concessional loans to customers seeking support to restructure existing facilities to assist in repairs, restocking and re-opening for business;
- Support and counselling by making NAB’s Employee Assistance Program available to customers.
NAB customers who need assistance can visit their nearest open NAB branch, contact their banker directly or call NAB Assist on 1300 683 106 (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, or 9am-1pm on Saturdays AEST/AEDT).
Any Australians who wish to donate to help Australian Red Cross’ support efforts in these communities can do so at any NAB branch across Australia or by logging into NAB Internet Banking (select: Funds Transfer ” Donation ” Charity ” Australian Red Cross – NSW & QLD or Australian Red Cross – SA, VIC, WA & TAS).
NAB also has a long-standing policy to provide employees who are emergency service volunteers as much paid crisis leave as they require during emergencies, including the current bushfires across Australia.
