Bank of Baroda (BoB) has introduced a new employee-centric initiative, called the Employee Assistance Programme, aimed at helping employees deal with personal and professional issues through psychological counselling and consulting.
Aware of the importance of workplace counselling, BoB has introduced this as a pilot project in the Mumbai Zone and its corporate office. The initiative uses technology extensively and uses multiple channels of assistance in addition to personal counselling in association with EAP India.
Given the current pandemic situation, “workplace counselling assumes more significance”, says Sanjiv Dhadha, managing director and CEO, BoB, highlighting that “the emotional aspects and stress have a substantial impact on the health of employees.”
The counselling service is offered in collaboration with specialists. This 24×7 service is “safe, non-judgmental, and highly confidential” and can be availed not only by the employees but their family members too.
Through this initiative, the State-owned banking and financial services organisation, headquartered in Vadodara, Gujarat, aims to “enhance the emotional wellbeing of employees, which will result in enhancing employee morale and creating a happy and positive work environment, with a positive impact on productivity” points out S.L. Jain, executive director, BoB.
With youngsters in the 18 to 35 age bracket comprising 60 per cent of the workforce, it is natural for them to “often face peer pressure, career and ambition issues, relationship / adjustment issues, etc.”, states Prakash Vir Rathi, GM-HRM, BoB, which makes expert counselling and timely support essential.
The public-sector bank’s distribution network includes 8,950+ branches, 12,000+ ATMs, 1,200+ self-service e-lobbies and 18,000 business correspondents.
