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SOUTH INDIAN BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to AIBOC) SIBOA Centre, Mission Quarters, Thrissur-1, Website: www.siboa.in, Mob: 9387100334 ===================================================================================== CIRCULAR No. 12/2020-22 (TO MEMBERS ONLY) Dated: 01.07.2021 Dear Comrades, As we ponder over the effectiveness of our fight against the second wave of the Pandemic and hope things getting back to normal, we all are aware that the relief is momentary and the danger that lurks around is far from over. With the threat of a third wave in the horizon, let us start the second quarter of this fiscal with an oath to prioritize the safety of our colleagues and family members as our primary duty. It is with a lot of pain that I pen down the names of our dear comrades Subalakshmi and Amrutha , who are not with us anymore, having succumbed to Covid related complications while in treatment. Bankers in general, being in the forefront of the work force, are exposed to the highest of risks with lowest measures of safety, it’s evident that preventive habits alone determine our survival. At the same time our beloved institution is in a process of a major transformation or like many of our superiors mentioned, “undergoing a major surgery” for our betterment and a competitive existence. In the process, we, being the only association for the officers in our institution, hold the responsibility to maintain a fair balance between the working conditions, job satisfaction and a suitable ambience at our work place to ease the transformation pain. This circular mainly focuses on concerns faced by the members, interventions we made and the issues we feel are to be seriously addressed. Vaccination Camps The reason for addressing the concern about vaccination upfront is obvious and needless to be explained. By the joint efforts of HR Department, Regional Offices and our members, vaccination camps could be conducted at different centers across the regions in a very planned and controlled manner. We had taken up the request with our HR Department for sanctioning a considerable amount for vaccinating the members and dependants. We place on record our sincere thanks to the department, and SGM for HR and Admin, Sri. Anto George, in particular for the timely intervention and favorable consideration. Having received clear instructions form the concerned departments, most of the Regional Offices took a proactive approach by arranging vaccination camps, but, the laxity shown by few Regional Offices on the same is lamentable. Even though there was scarcity of vaccines at certain centers, the undue delay in conducting the camps even 1 | P a g e SOUTH INDIAN BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to AIBOC) SIBOA Centre, Mission Quarters, Thrissur-1, Website: www.siboa.in, Mob: 9387100334 ===================================================================================== when the vaccines were available have caused serious ill effects on the health of the staff members owing to some regions found wanting in following HO directives. We inform the membership that the laxity shown by few Regional Offices in the issues of utmost importance will be taken up for due correction at appropriate forum. Transfers and Replacements As the transfer season is about to finally settle, there are few members yet to be given appropriate placement on promotion. With the implementation of verticals in progress, apart from the single list of orders issued through the general transfers, an ongoing process of transfers is happening whereby transfer orders are issued in random as and when demand arise. We have sorted out requests for spouse joining which were pending for more than 3 years and also helped most of the members who have reached out to us for getting favourable transfers and also transfer modifications on genuine grounds. We thank HR department for the favorable approach in all the genuine cases represented. Members may please note that there are still cases pending under promotions, spouse joining and other genuine issues which we have already taken up and the same will be redressed in a phased manner. In fact, in a fair assessment, the conversion rate of our intervention in transfers this year is almost 95%. With the implementation of the verticals based approach, the number of officers in a branch is likely to be equal or more than that in the clerical cadre. While the promotions to officer cadre and related transfers are on the higher side, branches are facing severe staff shortage in clerical cadre. We understand that the recruitment in clerical cadre is in progress and a permanent solution for the same will be possible only after the postings of newly recruited staff. Hence we have informed the management our strong discontent on the delay in the process leaving the branches and departments exposed to high risk and chances of possible business loss. We have also placed on record our objection to the haste shown in placing so many officers in different verticals without properly assessing actual requirements thereby exposing branches to serious staff shortage. Even the staff placed in the vertical are mostly kept idle and lot of confusion exists over the roles and responsibilities, though a rosy picture is always projected by the respective vertical teams in their presentations. Basic requirements like proper SOP for verticals and related 2 | P a g e SOUTH INDIAN BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to AIBOC) SIBOA Centre, Mission Quarters, Thrissur-1, Website: www.siboa.in, Mob: 9387100334 ===================================================================================== offices, along with systemic process revamping and appropriate remuneration for the officers posted to verticals are yet to be resolved. Staff Shortage at Branches Continuing from previous para, the branches are left with the bare minimum of staff, just enough to run the show. Tremendous pressure due to severe shortage of staff, frequent customer contacting exercises and implementation of new marketing strategies, roles assigned to verticals being pushed to the branches by certain verticals are further stretching the working hours of branches. It was surprisingly interesting to note that the major concern received from branches was more related to loss of business due to staff shortage related customer ire than other issues. We see it as an expression of commitment by our members that the primary concern is how unsettled working conditions can harm our beloved institution. At the same time, we wish to reiterate that no member shall bye pass the prevailing guidelines in the pursuit of business, with constraints of staff/infrastructure. We have appraised the management about the gravity of the issues at branches which may not be reflected in the statistics and reports asked for but creates irreparable loss to the business base and goodwill of the institution. To make it simple and straight- It is easier to canvass fresh business than regaining lost ones, but the market for fresh business is a tougher nut to crack in these pandemic times. Branch heads may get to know with the staffing of your branch which was recently fixed by the Bank through Regional Offices/ Cluster heads and should take up the staff shortage issues with respective regional heads by letter or e-mail. Members may please intimate us on acute shortage cases if the desired results are not received on your representation. We believe that acute shortage of staff can be sorted out to some extent at regional levels if powers to Regional Offices can be restored for Intra Regional Transfers. We have taken up the issue with HR Department and a positive decision on the same is expected soon. Work Place Ambience With the implementation of verticals and cluster based approach, many officers are posted without proper supporting infrastructure in most of the offices. Some of the newly joined staff are using customer lounge to sit in the absence of other facilities . Despite these limitations, the 3 | P a g e SOUTH INDIAN BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to AIBOC) SIBOA Centre, Mission Quarters, Thrissur-1, Website: www.siboa.in, Mob: 9387100334 ===================================================================================== posted officers are made to continue their normal activities which is creating undue pressure and demotivation of the staff concerned, the reason being lack of planning and lapses in implementation level. With shortage of staff in the branches, it has come to our concern that the intra staff relations are gradually worsening. We request our members to safeguard the interest of our members and interests of our beloved institution while desisting from harassing our fellow workers by conducting reviews/meetings after office hours for statistical purpose and reporting which is happening quite frequently. Let us be clear and be reminded that no implemented strategies or marketing techniques will be as good as a branch with good staff relations. Let us hold strong to our time tested core value of camaraderie while newer ones get instilled. Comrades, after all, no one cares as much as we do for each other. Let us not become poster boys of statistical business models without human values. Reporting, Review Meetings and Video Conferences Serious concerns is raised by our members about more time being spent on reviews/meetings / Video Conferences called by various entities from HO departments to clusters and repeated reporting, as these activities are eating into time needed for business augmentation