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‘Late-Night Video Conferences Put Officers’ Lives at Risk’ AIBOBOU Slams Bank of Baroda After RTI Reveals No Guidelines
Bank of Baroda, in its RTI reply, confirmed that it has no internal guidelines governing the duration or timing of video conferences conducted by senior officials. The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union has raised concerns, citing past accidents and fatalities linked to late-night meetings, and has demanded immediate policy intervention and accountability.
Author: Kalyani Mali
Published: 12 hours ago
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The issue of late-night video conferences in Bank of Baroda (BoB) has taken centre stage after an RTI reply revealed the absence of any official guidelines regulating such meetings. The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union (AIBOBOU) has highlighted the risks these practices pose to employees, including road accidents and deteriorating work-life balance. The matter has now escalated into formal representations to the bank’s top management, calling for urgent corrective measures.
RTI Reply Highlights Absence of Guidelines
In response to an RTI application filed by the AIBOBOU on 29 June 2025, the bank confirmed that it has no guidelines regarding the duration, timing, or conduct of video conferences held by senior officials. The reply further clarified that there are no defined restrictions on holding meetings late into the night and no safety protocols for employees who meet with accidents while returning from such engagements. When asked about accountability in such situations, the bank dismissed the question as “hypothetical.”
Image: RTI reply from Bank of Baroda dated 24 July 2025
Courtesy: K. Sriniwasrao
Union Letter on Late-Night Video Conferences
In a detailed letter dated 18 July 2025, the AIBOBOU highlighted the dangers of unregulated late-night video conferences and meetings. The union cited multiple cases of accidents and even fatalities involving officers returning from such engagements. It argued that the absence of guidelines, as confirmed in the RTI reply, has left employees vulnerable and demanded that the bank immediately restrict meetings to office hours, introduce defined time caps, and ensure accountability for employee safety.
Image: AIBOBOU’s letter to the MD & CEO
Courtesy: K. Sriniwasrao
Union Letter on RBI Penalty Accountability
In another representation dated 16 August 2025, AIBOBOU raised concerns regarding the Reserve Bank of India’s penalty of ₹61.40 lakh imposed on BoB. The letter questioned why accountability had not been fixed despite the penalty being publicly disclosed through an RBI press release. The union stressed that while junior officers face disciplinary action for minor lapses, no visible steps have been taken against those responsible for regulatory violations that caused financial and reputational loss to the bank.
Image: AIBOBOU’s letter to the MD & CEO
Courtesy: K. Sriniwasrao
‘Late-Night VCs Put Officers at Risk’
Speaking to Kanal, K. Sriniwasrao, General Secretary of AIBOBOU, said, “They are holding late-night video conferences that we have strongly objected to. Two years ago, one officer passed away while returning late at night, and in the Raebareli region of Lucknow Zone, another officer met with a serious accident and is still in hospital. Despite our repeated objections, such practices continue. The management claims to have issued guidelines, but in the RTI reply it has been clearly admitted that there are no guidelines at all. This means video conferences cannot be conducted as they wish, yet meetings are still being held as late as 8:30 or 9 o’clock at night, forcing even women officers and branch managers to remain present.”
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He further said, “On the basis of the RTI reply, we have now represented to the MD demanding a complete stop to late-night video conferences and the immediate issuance of proper guidelines. Another issue is the RBI penalty of ₹61.40 lakh imposed on the bank for regulatory violations. Normally, when even a small incident happens in a branch, the management quickly issues a charge sheet against the officer concerned, holding them responsible for financial and reputational loss. But in this case, RBI publicly announced the penalty after finding that executives had been paid non-cash incentives through an insurance company, in violation of norms. The bank paid the penalty but has not recovered the money from those responsible.”
He concluded, “We have been demanding action on this matter for the last three to four months, but even after three letters, the management has chosen not to respond.”
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