UOB employee also named Exemplary Employee for her work excellence
United Overseas Bank (UOB) today won the Leader in Innovation Award for its new inclusive hiring initiative, ‘The Unlimited’1 , at the 5th Enabling Employers Awards.
‘The Unlimited’ is the first inclusive hiring collaboration among the public, private and people sectors in Singapore, bringing together SG Enable, Autism Resource Centre, Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) and SPD to promote sustainable employment for persons with disabilities. Under the initiative, UOB acts as the private sector catalyst for inclusive hiring, engaging companies to raise their awareness of and to generate interest in the hiring of persons with disabilities.
In 2017, UOB commenced a pilot of ‘The Unlimited’ initiative and has since helped three organisations – Thong Siek Food Industry, Burnt Ends of Unlisted Collection and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore – with their inclusive hiring efforts. Thong Siek Food Industry, a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of seafood products in Singapore, has created 10 job positions for persons with disabilities. Thong Siek Food Industry also received the Best Newcomer Award today.
Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and CEO, UOB, said, “We have always believed in the value of diversity, whether in business or the community. By embracing diversity, we can bring out the best in each person and achieve so much more together for the long run. Persons with disabilities want and are able to contribute to our community. Through ‘The Unlimited’, we want to give them the opportunity to do so by encouraging more companies to open their minds to the opportunities that come with inclusive hiring. In creating meaningful and sustainable employment for persons with disabilities, businesses can build a more stable workforce as well as help contribute to economic and social development.”
The Leader in Innovation Award follows the apex Leader Award UOB won in 2017 for providing employment opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities at the UOB Scan Hub, its nerve centre for checking, digitisation and archiving of customer documents. It recognises the Bank’s continued commitment to and efforts in improving the employment, employability or productivity of persons with disabilities.
Second UOB Scan Hub colleague wins Exemplary Employee Award
Ms Joey Tan, a clerk at the UOB Scan Hub, was presented with the Exemplary Employee Award in recognition of her motivation to succeed in the workplace. Ms Tan, who is a deaf person, joined the Bank in 2016 under SPD’s recommendation. Her first assignment was to prepare and to scan customers’ account opening forms. As she was a fast and willing learner, her job scope soon expanded to include other business documents. Within six months, Ms Tan was promoted to the next job grade due to her good work attitude as well as her ability to multi-task.
Ms Tan said, “I like to work at UOB Scan Hub because I can learn new things and enjoy new experiences. When I first joined, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are co-workers with other disabilities. I really want to thank UOB for giving us job opportunities and believing in our capabilities. My managers and peers are also very helpful and understanding. I hope to be a role model for my co-workers and show that even though we may have some disabilities, we are able to perform on par with everyone else.”
Ms Shirley Tan, Assistant Vice President and Joey’s manager at UOB Scan Hub, said, “Joey is a versatile and motivated worker. She always welcomes the opportunities to learn new skills and to take on new tasks. Outside work, she enjoys sport such as dragon-boating and futsal. She also participates actively in the Bank’s social activities. She has performed twice at our annual dinner and dance events and at The Purple Parade in 2016 and 2017.”
Ms Tan’s positivity and work excellence led to her receiving the Most Improved Employee and Best Team Player awards at the UOB Scan Hub in 2017 and 2018 respectively. She is the second UOB Scan Hub colleague to be recognised as an Exemplary Employee at the Enabling Employers Awards. Mr Ngiam Tee Kiat, one of UOB Scan Hub’s employees with autism, won the award in 2017.
1 Please refer to UOB news release: UOB champions inclusive hiring through first such public, private and people sector collaboration in Singapore
