Bank Staff Face HR Harassment in BOB World Rewards Recovery, Alleges Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association

In a startling revelation, the Federation of Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association (FBOBOA) has levelled accusations of harassment by the Human Resource (HR) department in their attempt to recover rewards associated with the BOB World campaign from bank staff. The association in a letter to the Managing Director (MD) and CEO of the bank, expressed serious concerns about the tactics employed by HR officials to reclaim amounts disbursed to staff as rewards and benefits for the BOB World campaign.

The accessed document addressed to the MD and CEO lays bare the use of unjustified recovery measures, threats, and coercion by Regional Management, the involvement of the HR department, and the recovery process from field functionaries.

Harassment in Reward Retrieval
Employees initially deemed eligible for benefits/rewards for BOB World Activations are now subjected to undue pressure and relentless demands for refunds by the Human Resources department, without transparent communication or clear instructions.

The association alleges that despite their repeated attempts to convey concerns about the arbitrary reversal of funds from staff accounts, the management has taken no corrective actions to date.

Scrutiny on the HR Department
As per the association, compelling evidence suggests that the regional HR department made payments to staff, followed by subsequent recovery of amounts under the guise of benefits or rewards for the BOB World Campaign. Serious questions arise about the direct financial involvement of Regional HR, prompting a demand for transparency in financial transactions and an investigation into the sources of funds being restored by the HR Department.

Silent Management
The association expressed discontent with the management’s convenient silence regarding the aggressive pursuit of recovering petty amounts disbursed to staff as benefits or rewards. It demanded the reclaiming of substantial expenditures squandered on extravagant meetings, conclaves, and marketing initiatives linked to the BOB World campaign.

The association also alleged that the selective approach not only reeks of injustice but also exposes glaring hypocrisy in the management’s priorities.

Reaction to the Allegations
Responding to the actions initiated by the officers’ association, one of its office bearers declined to comment on the details of the developments taking place in Bank of Baroda concerning harassment allegations against the HR department.

A Bank of Baroda employee on the condition of anonymity told Kanal, “The suspension of BOB World service did expose underlying problems and recovery of rewards is one among them. Recovery led harassment by the HR department is going at rampant pace and disturbing.”

Demands for Action
The association has presented several demands in the context of the uncalled happenings post BOB World fiasco. It calls for a comprehensive forensic audit of the recovery transactions from staff to intermediary accounts, HR department led payment to staff, and subsequent payment to intermediary accounts as part. This aims to identify irregularities and restore confidence among staff members.

The association has demanded the audit followed by a pause in fund recovery activities and the withholding of disciplinary actions until a resolution is reached. Additionally, it addresses the selective approach in recovering petty amounts while taking no action on substantial expenditures for extravagant meetings, conclaves, and marketing initiatives linked to the BOB World campaign.

Controversy Around Bank of Baroda
Consecutive developments about the Bank of Baroda have been making rounds. Recently, its employees were found grappling with persistent target pressure and were pushed to sell India First Life Insurance.

The month of October witnessed the eruption of the BOB World fiasco, leading to the suspension of its mobile banking app by the RBI due to forged numbers of users and concerns observed in the manner of onboarding their customers.