Dear HR Experts,
I had filed a written complaint with my boss, who was the founder and CEO of the company, regarding our CFO misrepresenting profit numbers to the company from which funding was being raised. As the Chief Data Officer of the company, I was involved in providing data and felt the numbers were incorrect. I was concerned that I would be found to be on the wrong side if an investigation happened into the numbers. I think this can be considered a whistleblower complaint.
The CEO then colluded with the Board and served me a termination notice (without cause). No investigation into my complaint was done, and the CEO never got back to me. My understanding is that the company cannot terminate a job like this and that it is required to investigate such a complaint.
The CEO and the company acted illegally. What can I do about this? Could there be a legal course? If yes, under what section of the law?
Kindly suggest.
Regards
From India, Gurgaon
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3I had filed a written complaint with my boss, who was the founder and CEO of the company, regarding our CFO misrepresenting profit numbers to the company from which funding was being raised. As the Chief Data Officer of the company, I was involved in providing data and felt the numbers were incorrect. I was concerned that I would be found to be on the wrong side if an investigation happened into the numbers. I think this can be considered a whistleblower complaint.
The CEO then colluded with the Board and served me a termination notice (without cause). No investigation into my complaint was done, and the CEO never got back to me. My understanding is that the company cannot terminate a job like this and that it is required to investigate such a complaint.
The CEO and the company acted illegally. What can I do about this? Could there be a legal course? If yes, under what section of the law?
Kindly suggest.
Regards
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear member,
I wish you had mentioned whether your company is a public limited or a private limited. If it is the former, then you may file a complaint with SEBI or the Company Law Board (CLB). However, whether it is appropriate to file a complaint or not will be confirmed by senior members of this forum like Mr. Nathrao and Mr. Saswata Banerjee.
In many companies, CFOs may manipulate the numbers or engage in questionable deals, often in collaboration with the CEO or the MD. Many times, CFOs are pressured to provide false numbers and, reluctantly, they comply.
Termination Process
Now, regarding your termination, any termination should be preceded by a domestic inquiry. Not that terminations never occur without conducting a domestic inquiry—they do happen. However, if the termination is challenged in a court of law, it becomes the responsibility of the company authorities to justify why the domestic inquiry was not conducted. Whether to challenge your termination or not is your decision.
Your post was Chief Data Officer. Therefore, I assume you had a few subordinates. Under such circumstances, the provisions of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 do not apply to you. Since these provisions do not apply, you cannot file a complaint in the labor office.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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I wish you had mentioned whether your company is a public limited or a private limited. If it is the former, then you may file a complaint with SEBI or the Company Law Board (CLB). However, whether it is appropriate to file a complaint or not will be confirmed by senior members of this forum like Mr. Nathrao and Mr. Saswata Banerjee.
In many companies, CFOs may manipulate the numbers or engage in questionable deals, often in collaboration with the CEO or the MD. Many times, CFOs are pressured to provide false numbers and, reluctantly, they comply.
Termination Process
Now, regarding your termination, any termination should be preceded by a domestic inquiry. Not that terminations never occur without conducting a domestic inquiry—they do happen. However, if the termination is challenged in a court of law, it becomes the responsibility of the company authorities to justify why the domestic inquiry was not conducted. Whether to challenge your termination or not is your decision.
Your post was Chief Data Officer. Therefore, I assume you had a few subordinates. Under such circumstances, the provisions of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 do not apply to you. Since these provisions do not apply, you cannot file a complaint in the labor office.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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Hi, First of all, your termination without any inquiry or notice is not ethical. Please check your employment contract terms for separation or termination of the contract.
You had submitted a written complaint to your CEO about the misleading profit numbers shared by the CFO with the company. In turn, this resulted in your termination without any inquiry or notice, which was approved by the board members. With the limited information provided by you, my apprehension is that the CEO and CFO might have some behind-the-scenes secret dealings and are providing wrong data to the board. Since you brought these things to light, the CEO might have fired you.
However, your statement that your boss is the CEO and founder of the company is contradictory. Is it a public limited company with shareholders?
You can legally challenge the CEO's decision. It is suggested that you hire the services of a labor advocate.
From India, Madras
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You had submitted a written complaint to your CEO about the misleading profit numbers shared by the CFO with the company. In turn, this resulted in your termination without any inquiry or notice, which was approved by the board members. With the limited information provided by you, my apprehension is that the CEO and CFO might have some behind-the-scenes secret dealings and are providing wrong data to the board. Since you brought these things to light, the CEO might have fired you.
However, your statement that your boss is the CEO and founder of the company is contradictory. Is it a public limited company with shareholders?
You can legally challenge the CEO's decision. It is suggested that you hire the services of a labor advocate.
From India, Madras
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Thanks for the responses, Dinesh ji and Lakshmi ji. My company is a private company. They had filed the DRHP, which was approved by SEBI, but the company did not file the IPO.
My employment contract says that either party can give 2 months' notice "without cause." My company took advantage of this. I think they should have conducted a proper investigation of my complaint. Terminating employment shows malicious intent.
From India, Gurgaon
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My employment contract says that either party can give 2 months' notice "without cause." My company took advantage of this. I think they should have conducted a proper investigation of my complaint. Terminating employment shows malicious intent.
From India, Gurgaon
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As the Chief Data Officer of the company, I was involved in providing data and felt the numbers were incorrect. Have you got proof that the figures are incorrect? They have taken advantage of the clause of 2 months' notice and terminated your employment. This clause gives them backing unless you can substantiate that malicious intent has motivated the termination. Again, it is a question of evidence of wrongdoing, and your highlighting of the wrongdoings has caused termination. You will need proper legal advice from an advocate who can help you. The details of data that is incorrect need to be looked into. What was the intention of incorrect data and proof that numbers do not tally or are falsified—all are vital before you can make a decision.
From India, Pune
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From India, Pune
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"I had filed a written complaint with my boss, who was the founder and CEO of the company," is causing some confusion. In a private Ltd. company scenario, employees working and reporting very honestly should be lauded. Thus, your boss should have appreciated you for bringing to light the projection of wrong figures. Instead, he has fired you.
Considering your position in the company, you will not receive any support from a statutory angle. Your only option is to discuss this with a lawyer specialized in Civil & Employment Laws and act according to their advice.
All the best.
From India, Aizawl
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Considering your position in the company, you will not receive any support from a statutory angle. Your only option is to discuss this with a lawyer specialized in Civil & Employment Laws and act according to their advice.
All the best.
From India, Aizawl
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I do not have hard evidence of the numbers not matching.
Raising Funds from Private Equity
My company is trying to raise funds from Private Equity. The investment bank that was acting as a liaison between the company and the PE noticed that the gross profit numbers reported by the CFO were not matching with what I had reported. I found this to be suspicious. Preliminary investigation showed that the numbers reported by the CFO were not correct. Also, my boss did not want me to be part of this data-sharing exercise, although I was the Chief Data Officer and, as part of my profile, I am responsible for the data of the company. This requires me to be involved in such dealings. If not, I am leaving myself open to legal scrutiny by the PE company.
Before I could investigate further, I was given the relieving notice.
Expectations from Management
My point is that when I shared my concern with my boss, he should have conducted a formal investigation and apprised me. Is my expectation correct?
CXO roles are senior and responsible roles, and I thought it was my duty to report the potential wrongdoing. Thanks
From India, Gurgaon
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Raising Funds from Private Equity
My company is trying to raise funds from Private Equity. The investment bank that was acting as a liaison between the company and the PE noticed that the gross profit numbers reported by the CFO were not matching with what I had reported. I found this to be suspicious. Preliminary investigation showed that the numbers reported by the CFO were not correct. Also, my boss did not want me to be part of this data-sharing exercise, although I was the Chief Data Officer and, as part of my profile, I am responsible for the data of the company. This requires me to be involved in such dealings. If not, I am leaving myself open to legal scrutiny by the PE company.
Before I could investigate further, I was given the relieving notice.
Expectations from Management
My point is that when I shared my concern with my boss, he should have conducted a formal investigation and apprised me. Is my expectation correct?
CXO roles are senior and responsible roles, and I thought it was my duty to report the potential wrongdoing. Thanks
From India, Gurgaon
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Whistleblower Complaints and Evidence Requirements
Does a whistleblower complaint have to have hard evidence? Is it not sufficient to state that there is a discrepancy being observed in a set of numbers, and this should be followed by some investigation? As a CDO of the company, is it not my duty and right to ask to be involved in a process where data is being exchanged, especially coming from a system that I have developed and am responsible for? Data governance is the prime responsibility of a CDO.
Role of a CXO in Data Governance
Otherwise, how is a CXO different from a junior-level employee of a company? The fact that I was trying to do my job was not respected by the CEO.
All this points to potential wrongdoing.
From India, Gurgaon
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Does a whistleblower complaint have to have hard evidence? Is it not sufficient to state that there is a discrepancy being observed in a set of numbers, and this should be followed by some investigation? As a CDO of the company, is it not my duty and right to ask to be involved in a process where data is being exchanged, especially coming from a system that I have developed and am responsible for? Data governance is the prime responsibility of a CDO.
Role of a CXO in Data Governance
Otherwise, how is a CXO different from a junior-level employee of a company? The fact that I was trying to do my job was not respected by the CEO.
All this points to potential wrongdoing.
From India, Gurgaon
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Hi, now that you are no longer part of that company, what is important is having proper evidence, which you claim you don't have. Even if you want to challenge the CEO's decision legally, you should have some strong evidence.
Content of the Termination Order
What was the content of the termination order? Did they quote any reasons or just terminate the contract without assigning any reasons?
Seeking Proper Relieving and Settlement
What I feel is better is for you to ask for proper relieving and full and final settlement until your last working day and close this once and for all. I don't see it as worth following.
From India, Madras
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Content of the Termination Order
What was the content of the termination order? Did they quote any reasons or just terminate the contract without assigning any reasons?
Seeking Proper Relieving and Settlement
What I feel is better is for you to ask for proper relieving and full and final settlement until your last working day and close this once and for all. I don't see it as worth following.
From India, Madras
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