Left TCS Without Notice for a Government Job: What Are My Options with the Bond Issue?

I joined TCS as a fresher and worked for about 1.5 years. I had a bond of 2 years. After working for 1.5 years, I left the job without informing the company. It was a case of absconding. Then, I joined a government job. After leaving TCS, I received a letter from TCS stating that I have breached the bond and I have to pay the amount. I didn't reply to that letter. Now, almost after one year, I have again received a notice from the TCS arbitrator that I have to pay the bond amount or some legal action could be taken. Can you please help to tell me what I should do now? If I don't pay the bond amount, what action can they take?

Signing a bond, in my opinion, is borderline slavery. Having said that, this "bond" culture came into existence in part because of people (job hoppers) who quit their job within a few months of joining, and in part because companies have done a poor job in maintaining a healthy job environment for their employees. Employees are forced to leave because they are unhappy, depressed, or harassed in their job.

Regardless of the category you fall under, ethically, you made a deal and you should choose to honor it. If you choose not to pay, there are two bad news and two good news. The bad news is that nothing can stop the company from filing a case against you in the court of law, and you will probably be blacklisted in that company and maybe even in other IT companies (if they share their blacklist). The good news is that since you have a government job, you need not worry about being blacklisted. The other good news is that since our court of law is already overburdened with more serious issues, any case against you will drag on. You can base your defense on health issues, mental stress, etc., and the cost of a lawyer might be far less than the amount you agreed to pay in the bond. The only thing you need to do is not get emotionally affected by the whole process.

Just remember, you are not alone. There are hundreds like you who are stuck in the bond and want out. But how you choose to honor the deal you make depends on your ethics.

All the Best,

Regards,
Avinash Tavares

Management Trainer & Life Coach

youthempowermentsolutions.org

I am also in the same category. I felt a bit relaxed after reading this news. Can you please tell me if I can get a proper relieving letter if I paid back the money?

Warm regards.

I am also facing exactly the same problem as yours, so please reply to this thread so that you can be of great help to me. Please tell me how you got out of this.

Thank you.

Regards

I find myself in the same shoes as you after reading your story. I am currently going through something similar, which is only adding stress to my life. I quit TCS and broke the bond almost a year ago, but recently received a letter from them for a hearing in Bombay. I am really tense about what to do. It would be great if you could reply with what happened next for you; it would be a big help. Please let me know if there is a better way to contact you, if not here.

Thank you.

Hi,

I am also facing the same situation despite not being in the bond period. They are not providing any option for a buyout and are harassing me about absconding if I don't serve the full 90 days. Will this situation affect my joining at any Government/PSU organization, especially during the background check process?

Thank you.

Dear all,

Who are suffering from the same disease, please read my attachment. You all will get an answer to your query. These IT companies take a bond, make a contract not to join any other company. All are illegal, and no other trade has such a type of bond or contract because these bonds do not stand in law.

Please read my attachment.