Competitiveness of banking institutions in the context of human resource management and the concept of corporate social responsibility

Abstract

The current management concept of human resource management views employees as one of the most significant components of functioning of the entire corporation. Without interested employees, processes and activities cannot be fulfilled, (bank) products or services cannot be provided to clients or customers, performance and competitiveness cannot be achieved. Management has to be cautious in the area of human resource management especially at present times characterized by population ageing. From a long-term perspective, not only 50-employees but also 50+ employees need to be in the centre of attention. However, the idea has not been widely implemented so far. The aim of this article to reflect this indisputable fact and provoke a debate over the change of perception of the 50+ employees not only in the banking institutions involved which perception is still burdened by myths, stereotypes, and prejudices. Due to the fact that personal know-how of the 50+ employees is not perceived positively and therefore is not duly appreciated, not only a banking institution may lose its image, performance, and competitiveness. The article presents some of the results of quantitative and qualitative research conducted in banking institutions in the Czech Republic. The discovered facts suggest that the position of the 50+ employees is not positive in the banking institutions involved. This segment of employees is still viewed stereotypically. One of possibilities on how to change this approach seems to be the philosophy of Age Management in direct association with the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. It approaches every employee not only of a banking institution individually while taking into consideration his/her biological age and changing capabilities.