SMS conundrum: Do.Not.Disturb
NBP employees face ire of management for ‘useless’ messages sent to bank’s chief
ISLAMABAD:
In what appears to be a rather draconian move, the National Bank of Pakistan has warned its employees of disciplinary action if they contact the bank’s president on his cellphone.
The employees of NBP – the country’s largest public sector bank – had been contacting the bank’s chief to express grievances against delays in salary increase and promotions. However, a circular on the last day of April now means that they now face threat of disciplinary action, highlighting high-handedness in public sector enterprises.
The bank management argues that the Short Message Service (SMS) were detracting the president from taking strategic decisions.
The NBP issued the circular on the last day of April, ordering its workforce not to have cellular contact with the bank’s president Syed Ahmed Iqbal Ashraf.
“It has been observed that executives, officers and other employees are sending various types of text messages on the President’s cell phone”, reads the circular issued by Zaheer Baig, Head of Human Resource Management Group of the NBP.
“This practice needs to be stopped immediately, as being the premier official, NBP President needs to focus on strategic issues”, read the circular that appeared as a royal decree.
The bank further stated that the useless text messaging to the President may lead to disciplinary action. The NBP’s decision is contrary to the open door policy adopted by the corporate sector.
According to the communication strategists working with various corporate sector entities, nearly all the reputable multinational companies working in Pakistan are implementing an open door policy. They said no reputable firm is implementing such a policy that creates a curtain between the top management and the workforce
NBP has its own reasons for implementing an outdated communication strategy. The president recognises the importance of having contacts with the employees but, according to him, the employees should first contact their respective managers before reaching the president, said Syed Abn-e-Hasan, the spokesman for NBP.
The NBP has not yet announced annual increases in salaries, which have been due since January this year. This has frustrated NBP employees who are left no option but to contact the President to express their grievances. The annual performance appraisals have also not been finalised.
The spokesperson said that the finalisation of the appraisal reports were in process. Hasan said the NBP top management should not be held responsible for the delay, as the respective group chiefs were not sending the reports to the HRM department.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2015.
In what appears to be a rather draconian move, the National Bank of Pakistan has warned its employees of disciplinary action if they contact the bank’s president on his cellphone.
The employees of NBP – the country’s largest public sector bank – had been contacting the bank’s chief to express grievances against delays in salary increase and promotions. However, a circular on the last day of April now means that they now face threat of disciplinary action, highlighting high-handedness in public sector enterprises.
The bank management argues that the Short Message Service (SMS) were detracting the president from taking strategic decisions.
The NBP issued the circular on the last day of April, ordering its workforce not to have cellular contact with the bank’s president Syed Ahmed Iqbal Ashraf.
“It has been observed that executives, officers and other employees are sending various types of text messages on the President’s cell phone”, reads the circular issued by Zaheer Baig, Head of Human Resource Management Group of the NBP.
“This practice needs to be stopped immediately, as being the premier official, NBP President needs to focus on strategic issues”, read the circular that appeared as a royal decree.
The bank further stated that the useless text messaging to the President may lead to disciplinary action. The NBP’s decision is contrary to the open door policy adopted by the corporate sector.
According to the communication strategists working with various corporate sector entities, nearly all the reputable multinational companies working in Pakistan are implementing an open door policy. They said no reputable firm is implementing such a policy that creates a curtain between the top management and the workforce
NBP has its own reasons for implementing an outdated communication strategy. The president recognises the importance of having contacts with the employees but, according to him, the employees should first contact their respective managers before reaching the president, said Syed Abn-e-Hasan, the spokesman for NBP.
The NBP has not yet announced annual increases in salaries, which have been due since January this year. This has frustrated NBP employees who are left no option but to contact the President to express their grievances. The annual performance appraisals have also not been finalised.
The spokesperson said that the finalisation of the appraisal reports were in process. Hasan said the NBP top management should not be held responsible for the delay, as the respective group chiefs were not sending the reports to the HRM department.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2015.