Employment Bond Confusion: Can I Challenge a 24-Month Commitment When My Offer Said 12?

Here is one discrepancy out here.

Service Agreement Discrepancy

As per my offer letter and appointment letter, it says: "Service Agreement:

Post your joining, should you accept any specialized training whether in India or abroad, you will be required to commit to serve (Company name removed) for a minimum period of 12 months as per the (Company name removed) policy. You will be required to enter into a Service Agreement, as per (Company name removed) policy on Training, supported with a Guarantee in the form and manner decided by (Company name removed). You are under no obligation to accept any training requiring a commitment to serve (Company name removed) on your part. However, once accepted by you, it will be a binding contract."

As per the above, it clearly says 12 months of bond, but on the actual non-judicial stamped paper, they have mentioned 24 months. I signed both the appointment letter (12 months) and the actual bond (24 months). But I was under the impression that the bond would be for 1 year as we get the offer letter first and accept it, and second comes the bond. So, should they not have made this mistake in my Offer, Appointment, and Bond?

Can they waive off the bond on this?

Or will I have to pay? Please reply and help me...

If it is on a judicial paper, you must abide by it. If not, a judicial/white paper containing a letterhead of the institution, there is nothing to worry about. You must also ask before the completion of two years if you want to resign, how many months of notice you have to give. You can also proceed if it is on a white paper.

Siva Sai Gopal Komma is correct. However, you should have checked this discrepancy when signing the Acceptance to the Offer letter and the Bond—not much later (since that's the impression one gets with your posting). All the best.

Regards,
TS

• Why and how do you sign papers without reading and understanding them? Or do you put RHT (right-hand thumb impression)? Generally, there is also a standard line just above the dotted line where you sign: "I have fully read and understood the contents of this document, and I am signing this document in acceptance of all the terms and conditions mentioned above."

Discrepancy in Service Agreement Duration

I read it very well, what I am asking you guys. Since they mentioned 12 months on the Offer and Appointment letter but 24 months on the Bond, is there any possibility to negotiate on this? They should have mentioned 24 months on the Offer and Appointment letter, so it was a mistake from their end.