Condolence or Compliance

 


🕊️ Condolence or Compliance?

When Words Fall Short in the Face of a Toxic Work Culture

“Employee wellness is a predominant priority for our bank.”
These were the words echoed in a recent condolence message issued by Bank of Baroda following the untimely demise of Shri Shiv Shanker Mitra, a beloved colleague and dedicated officer. A solemn message from the Bank of Baroda following the unfortunate demise of Shri Shiv Shanker Mitra.

But behind the somber tone and official phrasing lies a deeper, more disturbing truth—a pattern of systemic neglect, toxic work culture, and silence that has long plagued the lives of Barodian officers.

Behind the words lies a workplace culture that many say is neither well nor safe. 


📉 The Other Side of “Employee Wellness”

Let’s put sentiment aside for a moment and look at the reality that exists behind the polished facade of “wellness programs” and HR excellence awards.

According to internal union communications and verified data:

  • The bank operates with a deficit of 13,000 officers.
    Every day, these missing hands are compensated for by existing officers staying back 2–3 hours beyond official working hours.

  • Forced late-night video conferences and unrealistic performance reviews have become institutionalized. Officers, including women and new mothers, routinely return home well past dinner time.

  • Two lives lost. And counting.

    • Shri Rahul Kumar Pal met with a critical accident after a post-9:00 PM video conference, held only to meet arbitrary performance review deadlines.

    • Late Shri Manish Chandra died after being forced to assist auditors till midnight on a holiday.

Yet, in all this, the management response has largely been ceremonial condolences—no systemic reforms, no accountability, no restraint on late-night demands.

🎭 The Peacock Feather Illusion

BoB’s HR department recently received the prestigious Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award—a symbol of their “outstanding HR practices.”

        Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award vs.

        ✅ Unscientific promotions
        ✅ Late-night harassment
        ✅ Punitive transfers for dissent 
        ✅ Ignored DFS guidelines 

But what do awards mean when officers are:

  • Denied leave due to severe understaffing

  • Humiliated in reviews instead of being mentored

  • Transferred arbitrarily, ignoring family and medical grounds

  • Forced into silence through fear of punitive transfers.

          It raises the question: Is the award a mirror of truth or a mask for mismanagement?

💡 The ₹1300 Crore Question

According to a detailed calculation from AIBOBOU, the bank saves ₹1300 crores annually by not recruiting 13,000 officers it desperately needs. Officers are working extra hours daily, unpaid and unacknowledged, propping up the bank’s bottom line at the cost of their health and family lives.

✊ Time to Move Beyond Condolences

While we mourn the loss of our colleague and send our heartfelt prayers to his family, we must also ask:

  • Why are these tragedies becoming normalized?

  • Why is institutional silence louder than reform?

  • How many more families must suffer before the bank acknowledges that safety, dignity, and fairness are not optional—they are rights?

🔧 What Needs to Change – Now

🔴 Immediate Recruitment – Fill the 13,000+ officer gap
🔴 Strict Guidelines – Restrict late-night work culture
🔴 Transparent Grievance Redressal – Empower officers to report abuse without fear
🔴 Policy over Performance Targets – End toxic target-chasing that sacrifices lives for numbers

🛠️ Action Points for Barodian Officers

Say NO to after-hour calls/VCs (8 PM–8 AM)
Demand manpower parity in your branch
Document and report policy violations
Support collective actions through your union

         🔚 Final Word

Condolences, when not backed by change, become mere lip service.

The real tribute to Shri Shiv Shanker Mitra—and all Barodians facing silent suffering—isn’t just in words. It’s in action. It’s in building a workplace where no one dies because they stayed late for a VC. Where family time isn’t stolen to meet monthly targets. Where human dignity is non-negotiable.

Let us not settle for flowers after death.
Let us build a workplace that values life, time, and dignity—while we are alive.



 

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