Dear All,
These are my views -
1. First of all an employee should know how to write a resignation letter. He should not feel as if he is going to some heaven escaping from the hell, while resigning. Such attitude will have impact on how he handles his personal departure and the organization will also react accordingly. Employees while resigning usually write 'I may please be relieved at the earliest' and enjoy at the heart of heart writing so - obviously because they are, under normal circumstances - go for a better job and are happy to get rid of their current organization - mainly the boss - towards which/whom they have accumulated some amount of bitterness. There is no need to mention ' at the earliest', if the employee does not really know the meaning of these words written in his resignation, which has reference to the employment contract.
2. The resigning employee before giving his resignation in writing must always seek for personal meeting with his immediate superior to formally inform about his decision to quit. He should not give publicity for his departure plan amongst his peers and make his boss the last person to come to know of his resignation. He should first inform the boss and then inform others. While talking to the boss, he should discuss the notice period and write his resignation accordingly. And, no loose talks after or at the time of resigning with any one. If the resigning employee does not follow all these, then he will face the problem what Swastik has brought out for this discussion. There is no point in discussing what is legal or illegal, if the employee is not gracefully resigning showing the best of his courtesy to his boss and the organization that has shaped his career in a way.
3.The organization - let it be any department that is making the full and final settlement - should not be so ritual that it forgets the minium organizational courtesy it should extend to any employee - whether on rolls or departing. A person leaving as provided in the employment contract should not be viewed as disloyal. Sometimes some departments are vindictive towards employees leaving and enjoy stripping them to the extent possible by refusing to them some leave encashment due, refusing medical reimbursement during the notice period when he/she is still serving etc.etc.
4.Sometimes the HR Manager or Accounts Manager wants to show to the management their professional brilliance by making all possible and half-possible deductions from the employee leaving by taking refuge under law for doing the bad rather than the good. You are no more with us and so we need not care for you' is their attitude. 'We will count every penny that we pay you or don't pay you as you have terminated the relationship with us. We are smarter than you' is how they think sometimes.May be, it is the top management which insists for such attitude from their HR or Accounts Managers, and these people simply reflect what is expected of them. But, many times it is their own creation, though the top management does not expect such attitude or approach.
5. So, the fault generally is on both sides. We need to know really what happened in the process of resignation, before taking sides.
Regards,
Govardhan