Day End Check, Forced Late Sitting! Bank of Baroda Officers raise voice against Toxic Work Culture in Chandigarh

Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association has written a letter to the General Manager and Zonal Head of the Chandigarh Zone to highlight certain grave concerns that have emerged from the zone, pertaining to violations of HR policies and BCC guidelines.

These issues are creating an environment of undue pressure and discontent among officers, which is negatively affecting their well-being, morale, and productivity. Some of the concerning practices include:

• deliberate delays in End of Day (EOD) operations until unrealistic targets are achieved
• persistent pressure on officers in branches and Regional Offices to work beyond official hours resulting in routine late sitting
• multiple logins within a single day leading to micromanagement
• over-surveillance, and potential compromise of compliance protocols
• frequent Teams meetings during core banking hours which disrupt routine operational responsibilities
• delays or denial in leave sanctions and other officer benefits often based on verbal instructions or without valid justification
• mid-academic transfers of officers that disrupt ongoing performance, affect continuity of administrative responsibilities, and create a sense of insecurity among staff.

These practices suggest a clear disregard for employee welfare and point to managerial overreach at certain regional levels. This approach not only violates the bank’s HR policies but also takes a toll on the mental and emotional health of officers, who are the foundation of the institution. Additionally, the Human Resource Management (HRM) departments in these regions are struggling to handle legitimate staff requests efficiently and fairly, further aggravating the situation.

Recently, Bank of Baroda Chief Manager in Baramati Pune Died by Suicide Due to Work Pressure. After this incident, Bank of Baroda agreed to improve the work life balance of employees and work environment.

The association has requested Zonal Head to provide clear directives to the regional authorities in the Chandigarh Zone to address the following concerns and ensure a supportive and professional work environment:

• To maintain operational efficiency and promote a healthy work-life balance, ensure that all branches and administrative offices adhere to standard working hours, up to 6:30 PM under normal circumstances.
• Avoid compelling staff to stay beyond official hours without justified reasons, and ensure timely completion of End of Day (EOD) processes.
• Implement a single login per day, supported by periodic activity tracking, to preserve employee autonomy and reduce unnecessary micromanagement.
• Instruct Regional Offices to schedule Teams meetings between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. This will help ensure that customer service during core banking hours is not disrupted, and officers can spend time with their families after 6:30 PM.
• Ensure that HR policies are followed in both letter and spirit, without arbitrary deviations.
• Approve staff leave and other benefits promptly, avoiding unnecessary delays or verbal denials.
• Limit mid-academic transfers strictly to exceptional circumstances, and where necessary, plan them well in advance to minimize disruption to officers and their families.

These steps will go a long way in restoring morale, improving productivity, and upholding the dignity and well-being of officers.