“Bank Sees Success, Officers in Distress”: PNB Officers Federation Raises Concerns Over Day-End Checks and Prolonged Working Hours

The issue of late-night meetings and extended working hours has become a common topic of discussion among the banking fraternity. Most bank officers, including those in PSBs, work two to three hours more than the mandated eight-hour workday. Now, the officers of Punjab National Bank (PNB) have raised concerns about day-end checks that prolong their working hours until late.

In a recent letter to the Managing Director (MD) and CEO of PNB, the All India PNB Officers’ Federation (AIPNBOF) expressed serious concerns regarding the extended working hours due to day-end checks initiated by Circle Office (CO) officials. Krishna Kumar, General Secretary of AIPNBOF, stated that officers across various branches are compelled to remain in their offices until 9:00 pm, awaiting the completion of these checks.

(The copy of the letter from AIPNBOF to MD & CEO of PNB)

Impact on Bankers’ Welfare and Customer Service

The letter mentions that the federation has received numerous complaints from branches nationwide about officers being held in the office late into the night due to non-financial transactions initiated by CO officials. This practice, described as illegal by the federation, has led to significant distress among the officers.

Speaking to Kanal, Krishna Kumar emphasised the violation of guidelines issued by the Head Office (HO) Human Resources Department on October 6, 2022, which severely impacts the officers' well-being and the quality of customer service provided. “Rest and leisure should be ensured for every employee in any field. Particularly in the banking field, the stress of handling cash, financial transactions, and target pressure is too high to cope with. Therefore, proper time for recreation is absolutely necessary. If an officer is going home very late, it means the quality of customer service will be compromised the following day. Productivity will also come down,” stated Krishna Kumar. He further highlighted that the officers, who are the backbone of PNB, are being put in a dire situation despite the bank's recent positive results in terms of net profit and social commitment.

The prolonged working hours are not only affecting the officers' personal lives but also the bank's overall customer service. Officers who return home late at night are unable to rest adequately, impacting their performance and the quality of service they provide to customers the following day. This situation could potentially lead to a decline in customer satisfaction and overall productivity.

Federation's Demands and Warning

The AIPNBOF has demanded an immediate cessation of this practice, urging PNB management to instruct head office, zonal office, and circle office officials to stop placing such checks on the day-end process. The federation warned that if these demands are not met, they would be compelled to organise a one-day protest (DHARNA) at the Head Office in Dwarka, New Delhi, in June, following the General Elections.

The AIPNBOF's letter to the PNB MD and CEO highlights a critical issue affecting the bank's workforce and customer service. The federation's call for immediate action underscores the importance of addressing the welfare of bank officers to maintain high standards of service and operational efficiency. The outcome of this issue remains to be seen, with the potential for significant developments in the coming weeks.