The work culture is deteriorating in public sector banks. Staff are being called on holidays to complete the pending work. Recently some of the PSU Banks ordered their staff to work on 23 and 24 May 2026 (Saturday and Sunday).
Indian Overseas Bank Baroda region and Punjab National Bank Bulandshahr region ordered their staff to open branches on holidays.
In India, the practice of calling bank staff on holidays is increasing. According to reports, this is sometimes done only to satisfy the ego of senior officials.
In some cases, it has been reported that bankers are working continuously for 15 days without a break. This situation needs to change.
The MD&CEO of Punjab National Bank had also urged the staff not to work on holidays.
This is not the first time he has announced this decision. Earlier in February 2025, Punjab National Bank (PNB) MD Shri Ashok Chandra addressed a town hall meeting in Mumbai, where he shared an important message about respecting holidays and personal time.
During his speech, he revealed that for the past 10–11 years, he has never worked on a Sunday, nor has he called any employee to work on a holiday. He firmly believes that working on holidays does not add value to the bank’s business or profitability. Instead, he stressed that employees should be given proper time to rest and spend quality moments with their families.
Despite clear instructions from MD&CEO, the Circle Heads of PNB are calling staff to work on holidays.
AIPNBOF GS Shri Krishna Kumar also shared the same on his social media. He said that the MD&CEO of PNB has not held a single review meeting on holidays which used to a practice before him. He has also not held any town hall meeting on holidays.
AIPNBOF GS said that a few ZM and CH are defying the orders of MD sir on this issue and frequently ordering staff to work on holidays.
This practice of holiday working should change in public sector banks.
