HSBC offers vaccinated staff in Hong Kong two days of extra leave

[HONG KONG] HSBC Holdings is offering all Hong Kong staff two days paid vaccination leave, as it responded to the city government's ramped-up efforts to boost uptake of the inoculation in the Asian financial centre.

"All Hong Kong-based colleagues who have been vaccinated or are scheduled for vaccination will be entitled to one day off for each vaccination dose received," according to the internal memo. "Colleagues who have received their vaccination prior to this announcement are also entitled to this vaccination leave." A spokesperson at the bank, which has over 20,000 employees in Hong Kong, confirmed the plan.

The move comes after Hong Kong's de-facto central bank urged financial institutions to follow the government's recent practice to give extra days of leave to vaccinated staff. Hong Kong authorities are increasingly looking to enlist local businesses and entities to help get people vaccinated, as the Beijing-backed government struggles to convince reluctant residents in an atmosphere of mistrust following widespread anti-China protests in 2019.

"In supporting the government's vaccination leave measure, we will introduce the same for HSBC Hong Kong," the memo said.

Major companies, restaurants and even colleges have started offering cash payouts, extra time off, even the chance to win a US$1.4 million apartment.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Tuesday urged all banks to "strongly encourage" staff in client-facing roles or support functions to get vaccinated. It also told banks to hand over a list of staff they expect to be vaccinated.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

Bank of America, which employs 1,600 people in Hong Kong, this week unveiled plans to get all of its staff back at their desks and encouraged its employees to get inoculated. The bank will also provide return-to-office training.

BLOOMBERG