I knew they wouldn't be of middle east appearance. LOL
Bank sorry over grooming
December 05, 2005 THE Commonwealth Bank has apologised to staff for official guidelines that recommend employees wear flesh-coloured knickers, trim nose hair and get regular haircuts.
Presented free of charge to customer serving staff this year, the Commonwealth Bank's "Grooming Handbook" advises female workers not to pull on a pair of shiny stockings because they tend to make legs look "larger".
Rings should be restricted to two per hand while earrings should be no larger than a 10 cent piece, the handbook says.
It also suggests that staff attend to unwanted facial hair, which has a propensity to sprout as people age.
The Commonwealth Bank today said the grooming handbook was intended as a guide only.
"The guidelines are just that, guidelines. They should be seen in that context," said Hugh Harley, group executive of retail banking services.
"The guide was developed in response to staff interest in personal presentation and I apologise to any staff who may have been offended or who do not feel comfortable discussing such matters."
The bank, which has been holding workshops to show staff the "full potential" of their new corporate attire, was proud of the way its staff presented to the public, Mr Harley said in a statement.
The guidelines were put together by a consultancy called Corporate Intelligence.
A spokesperson for the Finance Sector Union later said the apology did not go far enough. "It is a bit after the deed to be apologising, although absolutely any recognition of the harm it (the guidelines) may have caused is welcome," the spokesman said.
"But it does not go far enough.
"The bank needs to provide a commitment to all staff that adherence to this strange policy is not going to come at the cost of their performance reviews or job security."
The spokesman called on the bank to reassure its employees and make a commitment that the grooming guidelines would "have no bearing on the status of their employment".
