‘Toxic Culture, Salary Deductions, and Intimidation Rock UCO Bank Chennai Zone Offices’

An anonymous employee from the UCO Bank communicated to Kanal, revealing a series of disturbing allegations about a toxic work culture created and maintained by top executives. From systematic salary deductions to forced social events, the executives’ actions are at the center of a crisis that has left employees feeling powerless and undervalued.

Biometric Attendance System Misused
The misuse of the biometric attendance system has reportedly been exploited by executives to target specific employees. Late arrivals are intentionally marked as absences, leading to salary deductions in the following month. This practice is claimed to be a tactic of control, with some employees being penalized unfairly, while others are given preferential treatment.

Favoritism and Negligence in Leave Approvals
Executives are accused of approving leave requests for loyal employees while neglecting the requests of others, with some even dismissing applications due to "forgetfulness." This disregard for policy and the inconsistent treatment of staff have exacerbated feelings of inequality among employees.

Retaliatory Deputations After Complaints
Employees who raise concerns about policy violations are reportedly subjected to retaliatory actions. One example includes the Currency Chest In-Charge, who highlighted the risks posed by breached currency retention limits due to understaffing. Rather than addressing the issue, executives are said to have transferred the officer without explanation, while a new, poorly briefed replacement was appointed.

Threats, Intimidation, and Disciplinary Warnings
The actions of some executives have reportedly gone beyond management errors, with employees alleging threats of personal account scrutiny and disciplinary actions. Staff members who speak up have been warned of consequences, including financial penalties.

Forced Outing and Conduct Regulation Violations
On April 1st, executives mandated a resort outing for staff, leaving employees with little choice but to either attend or face potential loss of a holiday. Those who couldn’t afford the outing or had personal commitments were coerced into either applying for leave or reporting to work, raising serious concerns about the violation of employee rights and conduct regulations.

HR Department's Role Under Scrutiny
The HR department, which should ideally advocate for employees, is accused of being an extension of the executives’ will. Employees allege that HR officials are complicit in pushing staff members towards resignation instead of providing counseling or support, despite an alarming attrition rate.

Employees Demands for Reform
Employees have proposed a set of corrective measures: