STRATEGIC PARTNERS
April 16, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO -- Bank of America attracted the ire of California state Labor Commissioner Marcy Saunders with its "adopt an ATM" program, under which it encouraged bank employees to go out and care for a special cash dispenser.
Among tasks employees were encouraged to perform: pick up trash around "their" ATM, wipe it down using window cleaner and a soft cloth and check to ensure lighting was adequate.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, employees were expected to donate both the time and materials to help keep the bank's fleet of 14,000 ATMs clean.
The bank described the voluntary program as a morale builder for its 160,000 workers. But Saunders, in a letter to Bank of America president Michael Murray, said bank employees must be compensated for any time spent in connection with the "Adopt an ATM" program.
