The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union (AIBOBOU) has submitted a letter to the Regional Head of Bank of Baroda’s Mumbai North Region, highlighting several grievances affecting staff morale. The issues were compiled after union representatives visited branches and gathered feedback from officers. The key grievances reported include pressure to meet unrealistic targets, daily reporting requirements, and the misuse of WhatsApp for official communication.
Officers are being compelled to meet an additional weekly sub-target of ₹8 lakh in personal loans, which is creating stress and disrupting their workflow. They are also required to give daily reporting on loan disbursements, even when there is nil activity. Furthermore, officers are receiving instructions through WhatsApp on their personal phones, both before and after working hours, which intrudes into their personal space and violates the bank’s social media policy.
The union has also raised concerns about the chain of command, with Regional Office officials directly following up with officers without going through the proper hierarchy. This is causing undue harassment and bypassing the authority of Branch Heads and Joint Managers. The union has requested that follow-ups be routed only through sanctioning authorities.
The General Secretary of AIBOBOU, K. Sriniwasrao, stated that the misuse of WhatsApp for official communication is a widespread issue across the bank. He emphasized that the bank’s social media policy allows WhatsApp only for emergencies, but it is being used indiscriminately for routine instructions and even for transferring and relieving officers. This is harming officers’ work-life balance and creating a toxic work culture.
The union has also highlighted the growing pressure of unrealistic targets, such as pushing gold loans and car loans without regard to customer demand. This is worsening the situation and creating a “torturing culture” where officers are being pressed to expand the loan portfolio without considering ground realities. The union has requested corrective measures to ensure better governance, customer service, and respect for officers’ work-life balance.
Overall, the AIBOBOU has emphasized that these grievances are not isolated complaints but widespread concerns across the Mumbai North Region. The union is seeking urgent corrective action to address these issues and improve the working conditions and morale of officers. The bank’s management has been requested to take measures to ensure that officers are not subjected to undue stress and harassment, and that their work-life balance is respected.