Stuck Without a Relieving Letter: How Can I Move Forward After Leaving My Job?

Hello all,

I had signed a 1-year bond with a company that was located in a distant place. I left the company after 4 months due to my poor health resulting from the environment there.

I was aware that I was required to pay a certain amount to be released from the bond, which I have no issue with. However, it has now been 3 weeks since my resignation, and the company is unnecessarily delaying the process by stating that an additional 8 weeks are needed, even though this extension was not outlined in the bond's clause.

As a consequence, I am unable to apply elsewhere as I do not possess a relieving letter from them. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

You should once again speak to your HR people. Please carry with you copies of your medical certificates citing illness/disease. Also, send them a registered letter attaching a copy of your resignation letter, medical certificates, etc., and request them to expedite the matter. A bond can be broken on medical grounds, and if you are ready to pay the bond amount, it shouldn't really be a problem.

Regards,
Akanksha

Hi,

What Akanksha says is correct. You can provide your HR with the relevant documents and it is better to meet them personally to request expediting the issue.

Goodbye,
Ceci

I agree with Akanksha. A bond can be broken if you are physically unfit to continue in the present job. However, you need to provide the related medical certificates to the HR dept to prove your illness.

Hi Shrutiza,

Akanksha has said it right. The bond can be broken with suitable medical records supporting. Please appraise the HR department of the need for your break on medical grounds due to the environment present there. As suggested already, you may send a letter by registered a/d.

Also, not having the relieving letter now should not stop you from applying. If the worst comes to worst, the prospective employer can also be appraised of the situation why you are not able to produce the relieving letter by producing copies of the medical records which should indicate the illness due to the conditions prevalent in the ex-company. Some understanding soul in the prospective Company will understand and help you out.

Also, some of the Organizations request a copy of the resignation letter in case of the inability to produce the relieving letter, based on which you can be a new employee in the new Organization. Good luck and all the best to be employed soon.

Regards,

Dhinakaran

Dear friend,

Please understand that the law of the land has abolished bonded labor long ago. It is a fact that organizations do have bonds executed at the time of recruitment. However, the reality is, as you can confirm with any reputable advocate, that the bond holds no value. Any bond with conditions is ineffective. If you have any grievances related to a bond, please confidently file a petition with the nearest labor commissioner or labor court to seek a favorable verdict.

Cheers,

Rajeev.V

Hi friends,

What Rajeev said is 100% right... there is value for bonds here... the main reasons for companies to implement bonds are: what if an employee acquires training here and moves to another organization, and the cost is borne by the company as a result of attrition. That's the reason companies establish bonds with the employees.

But you don't have to worry about the bonds here. Also, I assume that not all companies require a relieving order when you apply for a job or attend an interview.

Regards,
Elamurugu

I wonder if anybody can help me out, as my emails and phone calls to senior management at Infosys have fallen on deaf ears. The company, which can prepare its balance sheet within a week, requires 6-8 weeks to provide a relieving letter. I don't want to take legal recourse as I still have respect for the company, although I am really fed up with the people. I can forward the related emails and correspondence exchanged with Infosys so that the issue can be sorted out at the earliest.

Thanks,

Dear Shrutiza,

With all your efforts finding no positive results, please change your approach from a request to a mild demand. Maybe you can send a soft notice from one of the legal advocates known to you requesting and not really demanding the relieving letter. Since you have indicated that you respect the company, please ensure that the notice from the advocate is not the typical lawyer's notice but soft in nature, which I am sure the advocates do draft. Maybe some bright individual who will truly safeguard the interests of the company will at least reply to the notice and send the relieving letter or at least indicate the reason for not providing you with the relieving letter. If and when you receive a reply to the notice, maybe you can address the issue, comply with any requirements from the company, and obtain the relieving letter.

All the best and good luck.

Regards,
Dhinakaran

Hey friends,

What if a company asks you to fill a bond stating that you will not join any of its competitors for three years after being relieved, and you are supposed to receive the relieving only after that?

The same condition was mentioned in the appointment letter when I joined as a trainee engineer. Now, I am a senior engineer and have been working for more than four years.