Rabobank is extremely ambitious. In the service sector, employees are key
to an organisation's success as they provide the means by it can stand out.
Rabobank's employees are enterprising and enthusiastic, focus on results
and work together as a team. Rabobank's relationship with its employees
is based on sound labour relations, at the heart of which are common
interests and reciprocity. Working arrangements are intended to be flexible
and goal-oriented on both sides to ensure the best possible result.
The HR vision 'People Make the Bank, Even Better', which was developed
in 2007, continued to be highly relevant in 2009.
The HR challenges arising from the Rabobank Group's strategy have been summed up in
three themes:
- management and talent development;
- enhancing the qualities of our employees, for example by means of continuing education;
- a cultural shift in mentality, attitude and conduct.
Vision of learning and development
Within Rabobank, the concept of staff development is becoming more and more broad.
Besides formal learning (primarily in the form of courses), attention is also being paid to
informal learning through daily activities. In 2009, Rabobank worked on realising a vision of
learning and development that enjoyed widespread support.This vision was brought into line
with our core values to demonstrate how Rabobank is unique in this area. In 2010 and 2011,
the Vision of Learning and Development, which was originally developed for local Rabobanks,
Rabobank Nederland and Rabobank International, will be applied in day-to-day activities in a
number of ways, including purpose-designed learning interventions, the promotion of a culture
of learning among managers in terms of their attitude and conduct, and the introduction of a
new virtual learning platform.
In 2009, the number of people following an e-learning course was up almost 20% compared
to 2008, while the number of computer-based exams that were taken increased by over 65%.
This is in keeping with our ambition of creating a learning environment based on sustainability,
and also minimises travel and paper consumption.
In 2009, Rabo Real Estate Group set up the Bouwfonds Academy, which offers business-
specific and sector-specific master classes, among other courses.
Management and talent development
As sustainability is a core value of Rabobank Group, sustainable employer-employee relation
ships are one of the principles of management and talent development. Talent programmes
exist for various levels. 2009 saw the launch of the Talent Cooperative, focusing on talented
employees in scales 9 through 11.This programme recognises and motivates talented
employees, enables them to enhance their knowledge (including in relation to banking) and
competencies (for example in the area of leadership), and encourages them to network.
Once every quarter, a new group of sixty talented employees are given the opportunity to
look beyond their own discipline, giving them better insight into Rabobank Group.
