Office Office

Yesterday I physically visited an old generation bank after a long time. Come to think of it - my first visit to a bank in ages since I transact mostly online or through ATMs.

It was quite an interesting experience. I expected no rush since public transportation was off the roads due to a strike. As expected, there were only a handful of customers.

The lady at the counter was quite co-operative and helpful. She took down the details of my request and disappeared to act on it. Feeling bored, I got around to observing the rest of the staff and the customers.

One thing has not changed over the past two decades. The pecking order is very much evident. The front-line are the lowly clerks / officers. After a gap of a couple of feet we have the managers / senior managers seated at larger tables. The sanctum sanctorum is the largest cabin (the only one that is enclosed) which seats the senior most manager.

The front-line staff looked the busiest - the change from the past being that now they were busy typing away at the terminals. The managers looked less busy but no less important. One chap had a couple of customers (who seemed quite nervous) at his desk. Yet, he was on his cell phone talking to someone loudly about the lack of traffic on his way to work and about the number of autos on the road. The customers patiently waited for the 'babu' to finish his important call.

The senior most manager was sitting in his glass enclosure picking his nose frantically. He had no one waiting at his desk. After satisfactorily completing his job (picking his nose that is), the manager came out of his cabin. Immediately the 'lesser' manager completed his call and attended to his boss.

By then the lady at the counter was back after completing my request. She inquired as to whether I was bored, I said it was interesting experience. Interesting it indeed was.