Officers Union Demands ‘Right to Disconnect’ Policy in Bank of Baroda

New Delhi, September 30, 2025—The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union (AIBOBOU) has formally escalated its demand for the implementation of a “Right to Disconnect” policy for all officers at Bank of Baroda (BoB). The Union has sent a detailed letter to the Bank’s Managing Director & CEO, with a copy also marked to relevant Government authorities.

The Union has declared the “Right to Disconnect” as a “prime and non-negotiable demand”, asserting it is essential for ensuring a dignified work-life balance and safeguarding the constitutional dignity of officers under Article 21.

Recently, Kanjirapally MLA Dr. N. Jayaraj has introduced the Kerala Right to Disconnect Bill 2025. The bill highlights the constant pressure on employees to remain available, often called “availability creep.” This pressure affects personal relationships and mental health.

In today’s world, work-life balance has become one of the biggest challenges for employees. With smartphones, emails, and online meetings, work often continues even after office hours. Many people are expected to reply to calls and messages late at night or during weekends. This constant pressure leaves little time for rest, family, and personal activities. Over time, it causes stress, burnout, and even serious health issues.

Concerns Over Work Environment and Stress

AIBOBOU highlighted that the current working environment in Bank of Baroda is characterized by “unbearable work pressure” and an “ever-increasing burden” of compliance requirements.

Recently, Shri Iswar Chand Jha, Senior Manager, Ranchi, ended his life during the night of 19th–20th September 2025. Earlier, Shiv Shankar Mitra, Chief Manager of the Baramati Branch, Pune Zone, had committed suicide due to extreme work pressure. Shockingly, a female Chief Manager, Ms. C. Rajlakshmi (Kerala), had gone missing and left behind a suicide note.

Officers’ Union has raised several important points such as:

• Forced Late Sittings and day-long review meetings/Video Conferences (VCs) that often extend beyond office hours.
• Round-the-clock communications through WhatsApp and other digital modes.
• Acute Staff Shortage in both general and officer cadres, which aggravates the workload.
• Humiliation of officers in public forums like review meetings and VCs, including the use of “unparliamentary language” and “abusive and sub-standard remarks”.

The Union expressed grave concern that these pressures have led to “intolerable stress” and, in recent days, unfortunate incidents, including “abetment to suicides”, have been linked to the workplace environment.

Core Demands for “Right to Disconnect”

AIBOBOU defines the “Right to Disconnect” as a progressive concept already adopted in several jurisdictions across the world, including France, Italy, Spain, Philippines, and Ireland.

The Union is calling on the Bank to immediately take the following steps:

1. Formulate and Notify a formal “Right to Disconnect” Policy for all officers, aligning it with international best practices and constitutional guarantees.
2. Prohibit Compelled Communications: Officers should not be forced to respond to official communications (calls, emails, WhatsApp) before or after official working hours, except in genuine emergencies.
3. Strictly Regulate Meetings: VCs, review meetings, and compliance deadlines must be confined strictly within office hours.
4. Enforce Professional Conduct: Clear instructions must be issued to all executives to maintain professional decorum and avoid derogatory or humiliating language against officers.
5. Strengthen Staffing: The Bank must ensure adequate staff strength to reduce forced late sittings and unmanageable workloads.

The Union stressed that compelling officers to be “perpetually available” is a violation of their fundamental rights, which include the right to health, rest, dignity, and leisure. AIBOBOU states this is an industrial relations imperative to protect officer morale and the Bank’s reputation. The Union plans to highlight this demand in a forthcoming Pan-India campaign.