In what has been termed corporate recklessness, Heritage Bank has been accused of placing its business interests above the safety of its staff.
This is due to the fact that it has exposed some of its employees to the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Finding by www.theoctopusnews.com has revealed that a reasonable percentage of Heritage Bank’s staff working from their business offices are functioning in their typical capacity as before the outbreak of the novel virus.
A statement signed by Heritage Bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Fela Ibidapo corroborated this position, hinging its decision to risk the lives of its staff on the fact that Heritage Bank being people-focused is trying to meet up with responsibilities that cannot be executed outside the office.
Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo it was revealed was the brain behind the call for the bank’s staff to return to work, basing his position on the need to satisfy their customers.
However, Industry Experts have frowned at the actions of the bank, adding that it is more driven by its business interest than protecting the lives of its staff.
The decision taken by the bank has also attracted scorn, coming at a time when the global rate of infection and death is growing like wildfire and that of Lagos State, the business hub of the bank is not receding.
Unlike in the early phase of the lockdown where one or two cases are recorded daily, the situation presently is alarming with Lagos State known to have recorded as much as 49 cases in a day.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), figure as of April 18 has a total of 541 confirmed cases, 166 discharged and 19 deaths.
Another 70 new cases were recorded in Lagos State over the weekend, leaving anxiety about the bank’s action.
Concerns have thus been expressed as to the safety of those being thrown into the frontline with no special provision known to have been made for them, especially as banks are considered one of the easiest points of infection due to the high influx of people.
Analysing the logic behind the decision by the bank, Industry Experts who www.theoctopusnews.com spoke with collectively concluded that the action of the bank can be likened to the desperation associated with struggling brands trying to polish their image to appear like they are doing well.
Recall that speculation of acquisition has been tailing Heritage Bank for a while with talks that it is set to be acquired by First Bank refusing to fade away.
According to the speculation, the failure of the bank to attract investors for years, has seen it seeking a meager with a more established financial institution.
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