Working at Handelsbanken

Putting the customer first

When recruiting, we look for people who share the Bank's core values and who can contribute with their diverse experiences and perspectives. For us, it is vital that employees are driven by putting the customer first and that they enjoy taking responsibility, regardless of where they work. 

Trust in the individual

Our concept of how to run a successful bank is based on having trust in and respect for the individual. Above all, working at Handelsbanken is about relationships with other people. It does not matter how good the products or services are if the Bank does not have the right kind of employees to help its customers. 

High degree of responsibility

Our decentralised organisation means that we give our employees a high degree of responsibility and a mandate to take the initiative. This trust is based on our belief in people's willingness and ability to seek and overcome new challenges and continuously improve their skills. It is also important that our employees are independent and take initiatives.

The art of co-operation 

At Handelsbanken, we are all part of our success and of the values we create by co-operating with each other. No matter where we work in the Bank. 

The Bank's traditionally good relationships and co-operation with unions are a valuable component of our culture. 

Long-term relationships

We take a long-term approach to relations with both customers and employees. We regard each recruitment as an important, long-term venture. Employees with extensive experience and a broad knowledge of the Bank as a whole play a vital part in ensuring that the Bank continues to have satisfied customers. To retain employees, we believe in offering personal development opportunities at work while respecting the work-life balance of the individual.

An inclusive culture

Working with gender equality, diversity and an inclusive corporate culture is a fundamental part of our values. This means making the most of the employees' potential. It also means broadening the recruitment base to become, to an even greater extent, a bank that reflects the community in which we operate. Accordingly, all types of discrimination and harassment are totally unacceptable, a message which is also clearly stated in the Group-wide guidelines for employees. 

Increased knowledge and awareness

Initiatives are being taken in several parts of the Group to further increase knowledge and awareness of gender equality and diversity. In Sweden, for example, we have gender and diversity training for members of management teams, employees in human resources and trade union representatives. In the UK, all managers are taking professional development courses to learn how sub-conscious prejudices affect us.

Our gender equality goal

Gender equality at Handelsbanken means that everyone at the Bank, regardless of gender, must have the same rights, opportunities and conditions to develop and contribute to the Bank’s development. 

The objective is to respect and make the most of each employee’s competency, experience and value, so that they can develop as individuals and in their professionals roles. Our objective is to have a staff with an even gender balance, where at least 40 per cent are women or men, in all parts of the Bank – in terms of the various professional roles, areas, units and countries. 

Health and work environment goal

Our overall goal for health and work environment is that employees should be able to feel good, develop and perform at optimal capacity. To achieve our health and work environment goal, we target a number of health factors. These health factors gives us the opportunity to create a healthy and inclusive workplace based on the following:

• Respect and trust
• Pride in your work
• Communication
• The right competence
• A healthy balance 
• A good and safe physical work environment

Everybody's responsibility 

An ongoing dialogue between employees and their managers makes it possible to detect early signs of poor health and to ensure the work situation is sustainable in the long run. 

Together with their employees and employee representatives, managers must develop a safe, health-promoting workplace for a sustainable working life.