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SBI Talks Mental Health–But Why Are Bankers Still Working Till 9 PM?
State Bank of India’s 9 PM work cut-off circular aims to promote mental health but also reveals the harsh reality of late hours, overwork, and staff burnout.
Author: Neha Bodke
Published: 13 hours ago
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In an official circular dated July 16, 2025, the State Bank of India (SBI) introduced a 9 PM cut-off for work applications like Core Banking System (CBS), Loan Lifecycle Management System (LLMS) and Retail Loan Management System (RLMS), stating it as a step towards improving workplace culture and promoting mental well-being under a workplace review initiative. Issued by SBI’s Chief General Manager (Operations), the circular aims to restrict usage of core banking systems beyond 9 PM to encourage work-life balance. However, the very need for such a rule exposes a harsh contradiction: while banks are officially open from 10 AM to 5 PM, employees are often forced to work late into the night, sometimes till 9 or 10 PM and in some tragic cases, relentless work pressure has even led to suicides and accidents.
What the Circular States:
- New daily cut-off time: 9:00 PM for CBS, LLMS, RLMS, and other banking applications
- Purpose: Encourage disconnection after work; reduce work pressure and stress
- Implementation: Manual set-up for now; automated systems to follow
- Effective From: July 21, 2025, for an initial 6-month period
- Exceptions: Only for urgent work with prior approval
While this policy seems progressive, bankers think it raises more questions than it answers.
The Ground Reality
- Bank working hours: Officially 10 AM – 5 PM
- Actual working hours for many officers: Often 7:00 PM to even 10:00 PM
- Reason: Target pressures, staff shortages, digital compliance work, and lack of overtime systems
- Outcome: Stress, family strain, burnout and tragically, even suicides
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Recent Tragedies and Longstanding Issues
In recent years, there have been multiple incidents of bankers dying by suicide, leaving behind notes blaming workload and harassment. Unions have raised these issues repeatedly, yet no structural change has been implemented.
Now, SBI’s circular says: “Leaders and managers are expected to lead by example by adhering to cut-off times.”
But this statement falls flat when staff are expected to work past official hours just to complete daily tasks.
What Needs to Be Done Instead
According to the employees:
- Enforce strict 10 AM – 5 PM work schedule
- Hire more staff to reduce overload
- Recognise mental health not just in policy, but in daily practice
- Implement a "right to disconnect" for public sector employees
- Monitor system login/logoff data to track actual working hours
Between a Circular and a Crisis
SBI’s initiative may be well-intentioned, but the 9 PM cut-off legitimizes late work rather than eliminating it.
We cannot claim to care about mental health while expecting employees to work late at night and then applaud ourselves for telling them to stop working by 9 PM.
Real reform means ensuring that no bank employee has to choose between their career and their well-being.
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