Old Video of Canara Bank Officer Harassing Junior Employees In Foul Language Goes Viral

An old video featuring a Canara Bank officer berating junior staff has ignited a fierce online debate about toxic work environments and employee treatment in India's corporate sector. The clip, which first emerged online on May 4, 2024, has recently recirculated across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation.

The video captures officer Lokapati Swain addressing employees in a meeting. In the footage, Swain is seen using aggressive and foul language while reprimanding staff for failing to meet recovery targets and for prioritising personal time. He is heard pressuring employees to work extra hours, including on holidays, and explicitly dismissing their family obligations.

"If you will not participate in recovery, including holidays because you want time after working to travel with your family, but [to] hell with your family," Swain states in the clip. He further adds, "I don't care about my family also, I care about Canara Bank."

He concludes with a warning, stating that if work does not progress from Monday to Saturday, employees would be expected to work on Sundays, and that "things will be different for everyone."

The video prompted a significant backlash on social media, with users broadly criticising the apparent toxic work culture. The prevailing sentiment online labelled the behaviour as a clear case of workplace harassment and a stark example of the pressures within some Indian corporate structures. Many commentators expressed solidarity with the employees and hoped for appropriate action to be taken.

In response to the growing controversy, Canara Bank issued a formal statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The bank distanced itself from the officer's conduct, emphasizing its commitment to its employees.

At Canara Bank we always value the contribution of our employees and their families, it is proven time and again. The bank does not endorse this kind of individual behaviour and personal opinion of a particular staff. We assure that appropriate action is being taken.

— Canara Bank (@canarabank) May 4, 2024

"Canara Bank always values the contribution of employees and their families, and it is proven time and again," the statement read. "The bank does not endorse this kind of individual behaviour and personal opinion of a particular staff. We assure that appropriate action is being taken."

The incident has placed a spotlight on workplace ethics within the banking industry, raising questions about management practices, employee well-being, and the balance between professional demands and personal life.