THE STANDARD CHARTERED Marathon has become a major annual sporting event in cities around the world from Hong Kong to Nairobi.
The friendly yet competitive spirit in which these races are held can also be found in the bank, where staff have adopted a 'work hard, play hard' approach.
In China, this has given rise to talent contests, karaoke sessions and fund-raising activities.
The bank encourages and fully supports all such events, and does whatever possible to ensure that everyone is included and feels part of the team.
'We have an internal committee which organises four kinds of activities - sports, staff recreation, learning and development, and charities and welfare,' said Blanche Lo, Standard Chartered head of HR for China.
Branches have a range of activities throughout the year, with an emphasis on bringing people together and building team spirit. Staff are encouraged to put forward their ideas for new events or activities.
'When an organisation grows very quickly, teamwork is crucial and it is important that staff learn to interact well,' Ms Lo said.
