Lunchtime Links: Banks start handing out Tamiflu

As the British government initiates its swine flu hotline, there are signs that banks are ramping up their own swine flu preparations.

The Financial Times reports that

HSBC is distributing Tamiflu to its employees. Most institutions now have anti-bacterial hand gel in strategic locations.

The head of HR at one US firm tells us they're also looking at distributing anti-viral medicines and at buying vaccine for staff when it becomes available. However, he says the business continuity risks are unavoidable: "We can protect employees, but there's less we can do for their children."

Wall Street banks have set aside $14bn more than last year to pay employees with. (DealBook)

AIG has withheld $2.4m in bonuses that were due to be paid on July 15th. (DealBook)

RBS has boosted the number of employees in its "workout" unit to more than 600 from 150 during the past 18 months. (Bloomberg)

Jefferies fully intends to keep hiring. (Financial News)

HSBC has now got a 50-strong (and growing) prime servicing team. (Financial News)

Morgan Stanley and UBS swap prime broking staff. (Wall Street Journal)

BofA Merrill Lynch has hired 100 investment bankers so far this year. (Wall Street Journal)

More Merrill Lynch bankers leave BofA. (Wall Street Journal)

Ex-UBS algo traders accused of stealing secret codes offer to get an impartial forensics expert to check the code line-by-line to confirm they didn't actually steal anything. (TradersMagazine)

Treasury Select Committee to investigate role of sexism in financial crisis. (Guardian)

FSA employees want to join a union over uncertainty about their future. (Evening Standard)

How money messes with your mind. (New York Times)