RBI officers’ body seeks review of HR policies

The Reserve Bank of India Officers’ Association (RBIOA) has written to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra seeking an immediate review of recent Human Resource (HR) policy decisions, saying they have adversely affected officers’ career progression, morale and workplace welfare. 

In a representation dated August 6, the association said a survey conducted among its members found widespread dissatisfaction with the Bank’s HR policies.  According to the RBIOA, more than half of its members across Grades A to E participated in the survey.

It claimed that 85 per cent of respondents did not see reasonable promotion prospects, 79 per cent reported low or very low morale, 91 per cent viewed recent promotion policy changes unfavourably, and 65 per cent expected to retire at Grade D or below. 

The association said officers overwhelmingly sought a “reasonable, time-bound promotion” as the single most important measure to improve morale.  The representation criticised the promotion policy issued in May, alleging that it did not adequately address career progression bottlenecks or incorporate suggestions made by the association during discussions with the management. 

Apart from promotion-related issues, the RBIOA said officers were dissatisfied with recent changes to employee perquisites and welfare measures.  It also claimed that women officers had expressed concerns regarding childcare support, workplace creche facilities, flexible working arrangements and work-life balance.