The All India Bank of Baroda Sena Union has written to the General Manager (HRM) of Bank of Baroda regarding the excessive use of MS Teams meetings, which they say is disrupting branch operations, affecting customer service, and putting immense pressure on employees.
The letter highlights several issues related to these meetings and urges the management to take immediate corrective action to restore efficiency, professionalism, and work-life balance for employees.
Key Concerns Raised by the Union
1. Too Many Meetings Disrupting Branch Operations
The union pointed out that branch managers and staff play a crucial role in customer service and business growth. However, the frequent, lengthy, and untimely MS Teams meetings during office hours are causing delays in customer service and reducing operational efficiency.
Many of these meetings take place during peak banking hours, leading to frustration among customers who have to wait longer for assistance. This, in turn, is harming the bank’s reputation.
2. Increased Pressure During the Last Quarter
The issue is more serious in the last quarter of the financial year when banks focus on achieving business targets. Employees are already under immense pressure to meet their goals, but being forced to attend long meetings during working hours further distracts them from their primary responsibilities.
With competition growing and CASA (Current Account, Savings Account) targets becoming more challenging, the union stressed that branch staff should be allowed to focus on business development rather than being stuck in virtual meetings.
3. Late-Night and Prolonged Meetings Affecting Employee Well-Being
In some regions, such as Raipur, employees have reported meetings lasting from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, causing serious mental and emotional stress. The issue is particularly concerning for female employees, who may face safety and work-life balance challenges due to such prolonged work hours.
4. Reports of Unprofessional Conduct in Meetings
The union has also raised alarms over instances of unprofessional behavior by some senior executives during these meetings. Complaints have been received about the use of inappropriate and derogatory language, which has hurt employee morale.
The letter reminds management that the bank operates on the core value of RESPECT, and such behavior is unacceptable in a professional environment. The union has demanded strict monitoring of meetings to ensure that discussions remain respectful and constructive.
5. Unreasonable Targets and Forced Commitments
Another major issue highlighted is the unrealistic business targets set for employees. Staff members are pressured to give written commitments on target achievements, often with threats of transfers.
The union has pointed out that these targets are often set without considering local branch conditions, customer demographics, and market challenges. This increases compliance risks and exposes the bank to potential Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) due to aggressive target-setting.
6. Work-Life Imbalance Due to Weekend Work and Unofficial Calls
The union also complained that employees are often asked to work on holidays without proper official communication, leading to an imbalance between their professional and personal lives.
Demands and Recommendations by the Union
To resolve these issues, the All India Bank of Baroda Sena Union has put forward several key recommendations:
- Limit the Frequency of Meetings
- Instead of daily meetings, a structured weekly meeting system should be adopted.
- Meetings should be scheduled outside peak working hours.
- Monitor Professional Behavior
- Senior authorities must ensure professionalism in meetings.
- Any use of inappropriate language should be dealt with strictly.
- Ban Late-Night Meetings
- No meetings should be held after 7:00 PM, especially for female employees.
- Make Meetings More Productive
- Meetings should be action-oriented rather than repetitive and time-consuming.
- The focus should be on solving key issues rather than just data reporting.
Union Calls for Immediate Action
The union has requested the HR department of Bank of Baroda to issue an official advisory to regulate these meetings and ensure:
- A structured meeting schedule that does not interfere with branch operations.
- Respectful behavior from senior officials in all virtual meetings.
- A ban on late-night meetings to protect employees’ well-being.
The union has urged swift action from the management to restore a healthy working environment and prevent further disruption to banking services.
