Is It Safe to Hand Over Original Documents to My New Employer? Need Advice!

I need a suggestion from you. I have joined a new company a couple of days ago. Everything else is fine; however, the new company is asking me to submit my relieving letter and service certificate from my last employer in original. They are telling me that they will return them when I leave the company. They are ready to provide me with a letter stating that they have kept my original certificates. So, what should I do now? Should I go ahead, or should I join another company? I do have another offer in hand. Please help.

Regards,
Jyoti

Advice on Handling Original Certificates

Please do not hand over your originals. If they demand them, then do not join such a company. If everyone offered a job refuses to part with the originals, then the culture will change.

Kindly see discussions at https://www.citehr.com/55465-origina...ficates-2.html

If you have an offer from another company, join. It is not a good practice to take original certificates.

Regards,
T. Sivasankaran

I disagree with the views that you have expressed. It is not the original education certificate or degree certificate that the new company is asking for. A relieving certificate or experience certificate is typically printed on a company's letterhead and issued to an outgoing employee. It states that a particular individual was employed with them and got relieved due to resignation, etc. I don't believe there is any significant confidentiality or importance attached to this.

I am unsure why this company is requesting the original certificate. If the candidate wishes, they can keep a photocopy with them and hand over the original letter. What could they possibly do with this certificate? Even if they do not return the ORIGINAL relieving letter or experience letter, so be it.

When the individual moves to the next company, if that company requires a copy of the ORIGINAL certificate, they can always explain that they had submitted the original to their previous employer and provide the copies they have in hand.

As long as the candidate is genuine and straightforward, I do not believe this will cause any harm.

Regards,
V. Balaji

Balaji is right. I misread the question. If they are asking only for the original relieving certificate, it's okay to give it. Even so, I wonder why they have to hold on to it!

Submission of Original Certificates: A Cautionary Note

In principle, I suggest that the submission of any original certificate is not advisable. I know of instances where the new employer insists on seeing all old relieving letters in their original form. With ERP systems in place in many organizations, deviation becomes tough. Of course, it is possible to take a copy that looks like the original and submit the original to this company. However, if you have a good job offer in hand, I suggest you join there rather than in a company that is asking for original documents, whatever they may be. It is not an ethical practice.

I do not see any reason for asking relieving letters in original to be surrendered to the new employer. Let them provide one justification.

Regards,
T. Sivasankaran

Well, I have recently joined a government organization, and they have also asked me to submit my original relieving certificate. I did so. I don't think there is any harm in submitting the original relieving letter.

It is not advisable to hand over originals to the company. If you find a good opportunity elsewhere, you may not be able to retrieve the originals from the company, even if you do not attend the interviews.

Regards,
Manokavi