An officer of Bank of Baroda’s Thandalam Branch in Chennai has accused the bank’s administration of negligence, alleging that the denial of her medical leave request directly resulted in a miscarriage and severe health complications.
In a complaint addressed to the Regional Manager dated February 15, Neethu S Raj, an officer in the Junior Management Grade-I, detailed how her repeated requests for medical leave, supported by extensive documentation from her treating obstetrician, were disregarded by the bank. She had applied for leave on November 5, 2024, citing a high-risk pregnancy due to advanced maternal age and associated complications such as severe pain, dizziness, and recurrent vomiting.
Despite having 139 sick leaves in her account, her absence was marked as unauthorised, and she was reportedly issued multiple notices demanding her immediate return to work under the threat of disciplinary action.
Due to this pressure, Neethu stated that she was forced to relocate back to Chennai along with her elderly parents—her father, a hemiplegic stroke survivor, and her mother, who suffers from severe osteoarthritis. The physical strain of resuming work allegedly worsened her condition, leading to a medical emergency on January 28, 2025. She was hospitalised for acute cervical insufficiency and intractable pain, which resulted in an emergency abortion due to a life-threatening infection. She alleged that the miscarriage could have been prevented had she been granted the necessary rest and medical supervision.
In her complaint, Neethu has sought immediate corrective action, including the conversion of her leave from loss of pay to sanctioned medical leave, an extension of her medical leave for post-abortion complications, and a formal acknowledgement from the administration regarding the alleged negligence. She has warned that she will escalate the matter if no action is taken.
The case has drawn attention from the All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association, which has written to the bank’s Chief General Manager (HRM) urging greater sensitivity towards the needs of expectant mothers. The association has called for an advisory to be issued to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.
In a letter to the Chief General Manager (HRM) of Bank of Baroda, the association expressed deep concern over the situation and said that the incident has led to significant anguish among officers, especially female employees. The association said that there is a need for a workplace that is not only professional but also considerate of employees’ personal circumstances. It urged the bank’s management to issue an advisory to zonal and regional managers, along with HR functionaries, stressing the importance of sensitivity and proactive support for expectant mothers.
While acknowledging that the affected officer is not a member of the association, AIBOBOA stated that it felt a responsibility to bring the issue to the management’s attention.