ABSA Group Ltd
Johannesburg,
South Africa
http://www.absa.co.za
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In 1991, Absa (Amalgamated Banks of South Africa Limited) was formed through the merger of UBS holdings, the Allied, Volkskas Groups and certain interest of the Sage Group. The Group is listed on the JSE as the largest financial establishments in South Africa. Whereby Barclays owns 55.5 % of the Groups assets. Offering a range of services and products in retail, business, corporate and investment banking and wealth management banking. Their main business is conducted from South Africa but has equity holding banks in Mozambique and in Tanzania with representative offices in Namibia, Nigeria and Bancassurance which operates in Botswana and Mozambique. The organisation is a blend of people sharing similar goals and visions, constantly seeking and innovating new solutions to banking. They are committed to create opportunities for employees to fully show their potential by working for an employer of choice. Offering a range of benefits, training, developing programs and leadership programs. Absa Group limited has been certified as being South Africas Best Employers in 2012/13. According to the CRF Institute, they were awarded based on the following working conditions; Having an international reach through Barclays, integrated financial services through banking solutions and gearing for growth in Africa.
Work for ABSA Group Ltd? Have your say!
(19)
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"Diversity - not so much"
Added 22 Jun 2015 by a current employee
When I look at ABSA, I do see diversity. But diversity on different levels. You'll find a certain group on a certain level within the company. Certain groups will never escalate while other groups, well, the sky is the limit for them. I've been working for ABSA for a while now and I've seen this with my own eyes
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"Race issue"
Added 08 Feb 2015 by a current employee
I worked for Absa for seven years. I tried very hard to grow myself within the company, because I loved Absa but I didn't succeed. I feel I wasted a very important time of my life. Absa is a great company to work for, it just was not the right company for me. Maybe if I get a better position with Absa in the future I might reunite with the company. I am however grateful for the opportunity I had, working for Absa. I learnt a lot!
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"bankmed recognised by absa"
Added 06 Nov 2013 by a current employee
I'm very disappointed by the way in which the bank treat its members and the level of disrespect that is being displayed. I'm a victim of such circumstances. I have been a bankmed member on basic, core and saver options, struggling to get decent unlimited access to health care. Eventually, I worked my budget to change from this option to the traditional plan, this came with a reason that I will not be restricted to cancerous doctors or limitations to health care. On the first day of membership, my authorisation to Pretoria north Clinic was approved only 80% and 20% not. A core payment of R1500 was to be paid by me, after a lengthy discussion with bank officials - and also complaining on hello peter, I had to cancel the authorisation hence, I had to give feedback on the proceeding, but with my medical aid not being supported, I had no choice but to cancel. On the other side, half of my salary goes to banked. Where will I get additional funds to pay additional costs? When we join Absa we are compelled to join banked, isn't it only fair that Absa brings several medical aids on board so that we can choose from? It might be law that it is a company requirement for employees to have medical aid, but not force them to join medical aid that it is as their detrimental. The company employees are responsible individuals and I'm sure they are law abiding citizens and will not be negligent.
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"Development"
Added 30 Sep 2013 by a current employee
My experience was very positive at Absa. This is due to the leadership and management at the time who were committed to transformation and development of black women. I had lots of opportunities for growth, where I travelled to various areas of Africa to deliver training and mentoring of staff. I was also given opportunities to attend strategic courses and workshops. I was exposed to Group Executives, and recognised for work done.
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"Low job security"
Added 03 Sep 2013 by a current employee
The work is always challenging but with great communication, a supportive management and room to grow. It’s totally worth it. ABSA has a great work culture and client service. Sometimes you have to work long hours and having a low job security is one of the cons.
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"Managemnet skills"
Added 27 Aug 2013 by a current employee
Absa - when recruiting in most of their positions, they don't survey the candidates.Yes, it is true. In SA we promote employees based on certain criteria. However, that doesn't mean you don't give the employee the skills to manage that positions. Also, when they need to promote the employees, they don't. Most of their - what they call 'HR ADmin/Managers' - has no experience of managing people.They promote this people based on performance and don't give the skills. I checked at Absa Connect Zone in Auckland Park.I have met with different HR and DM managers to discuss some workplace related issues. However, they showed that they were not aware or they don't know that.I even wrote to the head of HR in Absa Towers, but got no response. I ask that they just train these employees, because the mistakes they are doing, it affects the company. Yes, Absa might have won awards. However,I still rate the company's service poor when it comes to servicing the client and treating employees of different races equally. Security compared to other banks, is poor. I worked there and there was no challenge for me.
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"absa"
Added 22 Aug 2013 by a current employee
I worked for absa for 14 years and my main concern is staff remuneration and performance review style has been a concern for me over this years. Diversity wise, there's a long way to go...
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"leadership"
Added 25 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I have work for Absa and I can say it's one of the companies that has open door policies and if you work hard it's very easy to be recognised. The challenges that hold back the full potential of Absa to become the best banking company in Africa is that the Barclay style of operating it does not suit the culture of the African market.They need to understand the market and the rest will fall into place .
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"Greener Pastures"
Added 24 Jul 2013 by a current employee
The myth of greener pastures is just that, a myth. I recently moved from one department to another within ABSA and although there are perks, I found that I had to swim or sink. I have only worked for ABSA and not sure if their pastures are greener at different companies. I have been left with the reasoning, that in my experience it is the people that create these pastures and not the business itself. I have always had the benefits of great staff benefits and valued perks, but every manager, every colleague has an influence, but as they say in the business world... We are here to work and not to make friends. Based on this, I assure ABSA is becoming the "Go to Bank". Working for a brand that will become a leader in its field is quite exhilarating.
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"Super Bank"
Added 24 Jul 2013 by a current employee
Absa is one of the best companies in the entire continent of Africa. Working for Absa has been a great experience for me and it has taught me a lot.
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"Stuck between REALISTIC and UNREALISTIC"
Added 22 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I think Absa has a lot of room for growth for young aspiring people. There are years of experience you can take from people who have been with Absa for a long time. There are great opportunities to study that are offered internally and externally. I have worked previously as a contractor under Absa and I am now a permanent employee with Absa. A few weaknesses of the company: Racism is still existing within the corporate, UK management under Barclays are unrealistic about their expectations and are forgetting that they are in a South African business. They lack "ubuntu" in Marketing their products to South Africans. Management lack respect to subordinates.
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"Unfair practice"
Added 20 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I have worked at ABSA for 9 years. I agree with the review 'the waste of graduates' dreams.' Managers are threatened by graduates, doing everything in their power so that graduates don't get good performance reviews. When it comes to salary increases, your manager decides what you get.Junior staff earns more than their line managers. HR does not help.
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"Bank Financial Adviser"
Added 19 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I had the misfortune of being employed as a bank financial adviser, after qualifying fully with an esteemed Insurance group. Both these positions are commission-based, but getting your commission from a bank is MUCH harder than an established insurance company. Even though I received an email confirming that the commission is owed to me, in collaboration with the latest government regulations, it has been eight years since I left their employ, and STILL I have yet to receive a penny. To this day, after working for this group three times, I have not done business with them again.
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"inequality circumstances"
Added 18 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I have worked at Absa. My experience throughout the years was: 1. Management promoting favouritism and 2.management promoting inequality. This circumstances will clearly be seen , when you have employees (skilled level), mostly white, earning more than their black team leaders and managers. 2.Also having unskilled, white employees placed in positions without relevant qualifications and side-lining those with skills and qualifications. Point 1 and 2 happened at the Melyn branch and fraud department, Pretoria. Furthermore, in the Pretoria fraud department you get families and relatives working in this department and most of the opportunities will be handed to them. I have also seen a comment by one of the employees saying she was a excellent performer and those who were under performers were permanent. This is true, it happened - and also management becomes personal when doing this selections of giving permanent positions to those who are on a contract. It happened in July 2013 at Absa's fraud department Waltloo, Pretoria. I have been around various departments in the Absa group and it is such a good organisation to work for. The only problem is insecure managers who are incompetent, racist and always strive to push good performers down, instead of proper procedural development. This circumstance happened in Kempton Park cash centre. The last and final comment on Absa is, do not trust HR at all, especially when it comes to being the custodian of policies and procedures. They are the very same one that twist and turn, even risk losing their jobs. This behaviour shows that there is no transparency,integrity and excellence, in the fraud department in Pretoria. You have managers and team leaders sending emails out asking for curriculum vitae's for available positions and managers coming with their children by hand and giving them those jobs, but there is a recruitment procedure and nowhere does it say one must advertise and appoint in that manner.
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"Value your loyal employees"
Added 18 Jul 2013 by a current employee
I've worked on a contractual basis for an ABSA Contact Centre in PE.I was one of the shining employees receiving awards for best administrator,sales and payouts consultant, when I worked in those departments, but somehow the ones that didn't do as good got made permanent. And not too soon after I left, the contact centre closed down.I think they seriously need to re-look at valuing their loyal employees and try to retain them.
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"Graduate banker"
Added 17 Jul 2013 by a current employee
There is just a lot of skills mismatched in ABSA. Accountant graduates are trained for branch administrator and receptionist roles. Junior economist are trained for sales and branch managers. Yet, during the interviews they tell you that they are going to develop you according to your qualification and field of interest. If you are really passionate about your field, my advice is, consider other opportunities besides ABSA. I just joint one of the prominent financial institutions in the country about a month ago and they have embedded the importance of qualifications and career growth in me.They do not only prioritise their business interests, but also the personal growth. If ABSA continues to belittle their graduates' career growth, ambitions and qualifications,they should also scrap out their program or else they would just groom graduates for other employers.
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"Unrealistic expectations from employees"
Added 06 Jul 2013 by a current employee
Loyal worker for 20 years, obtained two banking diplomas, not getting paid according to job level or qualifications, salary increases pathetic, no pay for MANY hours worked overtime. Systems offline and processes too cumbersome - impact on service delivery to client and stress becomes too much to bear. New younger staff appointed with less qualifications for higher salary. Management not involved and does not assist and lead the way they should. Meetings are held constantly but nothing ever gets resolved.
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"Does not care for employees"
Added 09 Jun 2013 by a current employee
Led by individuals after personal gain at expense of others.
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"Not my cup of tea"
Added 16 May 2013 by a current employee
Working double shifts and not getting paid enough is the disadvantage at Absa bank. The hardest part of the job: Lack of interest from top management. Fun environment where 'open door' policies are practiced.
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ABSA Group Ltd
