Are Promised Salary Raises Real or Just Empty Promises? Share Your Experiences!

I joined one company, and they told me that after training finishes and my incubation period starts, if I perform well and achieve targets, my salary will be revised. However, I have heard from many employees (not of this company) that many companies don't raise salaries as they claim. Sometimes, they keep delaying. I have experienced this in my previous company as well. In fact, every month they were deducting some amount from my actual take-home salary without reason. When I asked the manager, he told me to email the HR department. Every time I emailed them, they said they would reimburse it. Even after I left the company a year ago, it has still not been reimbursed.

Understanding Employment Assurances

What you get in writing is what you get. All else is assurances, and it's easy to go back on assurances, and it's not a crime. So, what you get is what you get—know this and then join a company.

Factors Influencing Salary Increments

Whether the company raises your salary or not depends on many factors. It's a subjective decision that may vary between your perspective and that of the employer. If they value your presence, they will enhance your salary. If they perceive you as easily replaceable, they may not provide an increment.

If you notice a lack of salary increment, you are free to seek alternative job opportunities (as you recently did). Generally, individuals who meet or exceed their targets will find no shortage of job options.

Salary Deductions and Legal Rights

No company can make deductions from your salary unless clearly specified in sections 6 and 7 of the Payment of Wages Act. For any such deductions, detailed information must be provided.

You should have addressed this issue with your HR and the top management. They understand that remuneration is a significant motivator for employees, and unfair deductions can lead to disputes. Even now, you can discuss the deductions with the management, present a list of discrepancies, and request reimbursement.

Legally, you have the right to approach the labor officer, factory inspector, or relevant authority to recover any wrongfully deducted amounts. However, the effort involved may not always justify the outcome.

Addressing Salary Discrepancies

If your salary is credited directly to your bank or you are issued a check every month and it differs from what is mentioned in your appointment letter, you do have an issue to address. You may, however, like to know that your monthly take-home need not be 1/12th of your annual CTC since the term CTC includes many other employee-based costs which the company has to bear. Deducting such costs, if being done for all employees in the company, seems legitimate.

Taking the above into account, you may send a letter to the CEO mentioning your concerns and requesting a reply. Please mail this letter by 'Speed Post' and track its delivery.