Suicide of Union Bank Manager in Bangaluru: Yet Another Victim of Toxic Work Culture?

Biju, the Manager and Branch Head of the Kakkabe Branch of Union Bank of India, was discovered dead by suicide at his office premises on 11 September 2024. His death has sparked serious concerns about workplace stress and mental harassment within the banking sector, as allegations of undue work pressure and harassment by his superiors have come to light.

A banking union leader close to the deceased revealed that Biju had confided to him just a week before the incident, expressing the immense mental pressure he was facing due to work. The leader alleged that the relentless pressure imposed on Biju by his superiors amounted to mental harassment, contributing to his decision to take his own life. According to the union leader, Biju had been facing "sustained and unbearable" pressure from superiors to meet unrealistic targets, despite the challenges of managing a branch with a severe staff shortage.

The leader also pointed out that the mental harassment Biju endured over time could be classified as abetment of suicide, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

Unrealistic Targets and Staff Shortage Added to Pressure

As the Branch Head of Kakkabe, Biju was tasked with achieving challenging targets, despite facing a significant shortage of staff. Colleagues and close associates have reported that the heavy workload, compounded by the lack of adequate manpower, took a toll on his mental health. Biju had been struggling to meet his branch's targets under increasingly stressful conditions, which worsened over time.

Adding to his distress, Biju was frequently subjected to demeaning and humiliating video conference reviews by higher authorities. His close circle revealed to Kanal that these regular reviews further deteriorated his mental state. 

Diagnosed With Depression, Unable to Take Time Off

Biju had been diagnosed with clinical depression, which reportedly stemmed from the high levels of stress he was under at work. Although he was undergoing treatment, the acute shortage of staff at his branch made it difficult for him to take time off. His fears of being reprimanded or penalised if he failed to meet his targets only compounded his stress. The possibility of receiving a memorandum or being transferred to another branch added to his anxiety, leading him to feel increasingly helpless.

Wife's Transfer Deepened His Mental Health Crisis

In addition to his professional struggles, Biju was grappling with personal challenges. His wife, who also worked for Union Bank, had recently been transferred from a nearby branch in the Hassan region to a distant location in Madikeri. This sudden transfer placed an additional emotional burden on Biju, as it disrupted their family life and left him feeling increasingly isolated. 

Both Biju and Asha had previously been transferred from Kerala in a lateral transfer exercise, initially being posted to adjacent locations in the Hassan region. While this move was difficult for them, they found solace in being near each other. However, Asha's recent transfer to Madikeri left Biju devastated, as it further exacerbated his feelings of loneliness and despair. 

Not an Isolated Incident in the Banking Sector

Biju's death is one of several tragic suicides in the banking sector attributed to overwhelming work pressure. On 2 February 2024, Siyaram Prasad, Chief Manager of Union Bank in Gujarat's Junagarh region, died by suicide, leaving behind a note blaming severe work stress and neglect from management. Similarly, on 10 May 2024, a Branch Manager at Union Bank's Arakkonam branch in Tamil Nadu took his life after dropping off his wife, a fellow banker. His death, too, is linked to unbearable work conditions, highlighting a growing crisis within public sector banks.

Union Bank of India and other public sector banks are now under scrutiny as more cases of workplace-induced stress come to light, with calls for a thorough investigation into the working conditions and mental health support provided to employees.

The tragic death of Biju has raised alarm bells about the mental health of banking professionals, especially in public sector banks. His death underscores the need for banking institutions to address the issues of undue work pressure, mental harassment, and inadequate support systems for employees facing stress. As the investigation continues, calls for better mental health awareness and support in the sector are growing louder.