The State Bank of India (SBI) Haldwani Region has issued a notice regarding leave restrictions for its staff during the last week of August 2026.
According to the notice, SBI has asked all Assistant General Managers to advise staff working under their administrative control to avoid applying for leave during the last week of August. The bank has stated that maximizing business growth is a priority as the month-end approaches. It has also pointed out that staff shortages during this period may directly affect the performance of branches and regions.
The notice has created a stir on social media and people are criticizing Bank for the action.
The notice specifically asks employees not to plan leave by clubbing it with the upcoming public holidays on August 26, 2026, and August 28, 2026. The bank has directed that leave during this period should generally be avoided.
Leave during the specified period will be sanctioned only in emergency circumstances. Such leave will also require prior approval from the competent authority mentioned in the notice.
SBI Employees are not happy with this
It is very important to note that many bankers are posted far away from their homes. If they are not allowed to take leave during festivals like Raksha Bandhan, how will they travel to their hometowns and celebrate the festival with their families?
Is it practical for an employee posted far away from home to travel a long distance in a single day, celebrate the festival, and return to the branch location immediately? For example, how can a banker working in Maharashtra travel to Bihar, celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their family, and return to work without taking leave?
Bankers are raising a genuine concern: first, employees are posted far away from their hometowns, and then they are asked not to take leave during important festivals. If bankers were posted near their homes, they might not need to take additional leave. However, when employees are posted hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away, they naturally need extra leave and travel time to visit their families and celebrate important festivals.
Therefore, employees believe that their personal and family needs should also be considered while planning leave restrictions during festival periods.
