Rising Resignations at Bank of Baroda; Union Flags Concerns Over Work Culture and HR Practices

A recent Right to Information (RTI) response from Bank of Baroda (BoB) has provided a detailed look into employee resignations over the last three financial years. The data, covering FY 2023–24, FY 2024–25, and FY 2025–26 (till date), outlines year-wise and scale-wise resignation figures for clerical staff and officers from Scale I to Scale V, excluding voluntary retirements.
According to BoB’s official response, exit interviews are conducted for all employees who resign, following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introduced in March 2020. The process aims to record reasons for exits and collect feedback to enhance workplace policies and employee engagement.
Union Raises Red Flags
While the bank’s RTI response highlights structured HR processes, the All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union (AIBOBOU) has expressed deep concern over rising employee dissatisfaction. The union attributes the growing number of resignations to what it calls a “toxic work culture”, inadequate grievance redressal mechanisms, and a perceived lack of empathy from the HR department.
Union representatives allege that some employees face undue pressure to meet sales targets for third-party financial products, with non-compliance allegedly resulting in unfavourable transfers or poor performance ratings. They have also cited instances of biased internal investigations, nepotism, and opaque promotion processes as contributing factors to employee unrest.
Diverging Narratives
The contrast between the bank’s formal HR procedures and the union’s allegations points to a growing disconnect between management and staff. While BoB maintains that it follows standardised processes for employee engagement and exit documentation, the union contends that deeper issues of morale and trust persist across several branches and departments.
Need for Dialogue
Industry observers suggest that the situation underscores the need for stronger communication channels, transparent HR practices, and constructive employee engagement frameworks in large public-sector banks. The union has urged the management to take proactive steps to address concerns around workplace culture and career progression to improve retention and rebuild employee confidence.
The evolving situation at Bank of Baroda reflects a broader trend across India’s banking sector, where rising performance expectations and digital transformation pressures are reshaping the employee experience.

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