FCTG Giving Bank rollout

FLIGHT Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has extended its Giving Bank initiative to all staff in Australia this month, allowing employees to share sick leave entitlements with colleagues who are in need.

The concept was included in FCTG’s enterprise bargaining agreement adopted by the Flight Centre and Universal Traveller brands in Australia in Oct 2018 (TD 08 Nov).

Staff in Australia can now choose to donate some of their unused sick leave entitlement to the Giving Bank, which can be drawn from by fellow employees who are dealing with life threatening situations or serious illness and have exhausted their own entitlements and are not yet able to return to work.

FCTG Global Peopleworks Leader Carole Cooper said the Giving Bank was created to help make things a little easier for staff who are faced with extraordinarily difficult situations in terms of their health or wellbeing.

“We believe this is an innovative program – possibly the first of its kind in Australia – that will deliver huge benefits to people who need an extra helping hand while they overcome injury or illness,” Cooper said.

Eligible leisure sales staff with personal/carers leave balances exceeding 15 days can donate up to three days leave per annum, while support & corporate travel staff with sufficient balances can donate up to 20 days leave.

Donors who later require more sick leave can then apply to have their donated leave entitlements allocated back to them.