Just Joined and Already Want to Leave: What Happens If I Quit Without Notice?

I recently joined an office where I have only been for one day, which is the joining day. I don't want to work there. Now, my question is that I haven't signed any bond. However, in the agreement letter of the company, it is written that if an employee leaves the office, she has to pay two months' salary. Please suggest what will happen in terms of legal action if I abscond from the office.

Dear Deepak / Salonika,

Please note that a company does spend money to hire a person. I would not suggest leaving the company on the first day of joining without informing the company's management. You can discuss this with the company's HR and management and explain your reasons for leaving.

Please understand that if there is a clause for a 2-month notice period from your side, it is the same from the company's side as well. I believe that once the management is aware that you are not willing to continue, no management will ask a disengaged employee to stay on, as that employee will not be productive. Therefore, from the management's perspective, there is no benefit even if the employee serves a 2-month notice period.

Regarding the company taking legal action, if you abscond without any notice, HR can take legal action based on your agreement through the appointment letter, which may include asking for 2 months' salary. Furthermore, there are HR departments that track ex-employees and inform the new company's HR about the behavior of the employee.

If you have signed your offer letter and submitted it to them, it is professional to inform the management/HR regarding this.

Regards,

If I inform HR that I don't want to continue with this company, then the clause of 2 months' salary will come into play because it is written that if the company terminates or the employee resigns, he/she has to pay 2 months' salary. Now, my question is: if I abscond, might I escape paying the 2 months' salary, or if I inform them, what is the guarantee that they won't take any action against me because it's written in the offer letter that if the employee leaves of their own accord, they have to pay? Please suggest what to do.

Regards,
Harshita

Dear Harshita,

Please clarify your situation again:

1. Have they issued an appointment letter after the offer letter?

2. Generally, the appointment letter contains clauses about the notice period.

3. Have all the joining formalities been completed on the first day?

Generally, employers do not take serious actions in your situation. Do not communicate with them directly, but answer their calls and inform them that you are currently unable to come to the office and are occupied with personal matters.

Regards

First of all, tell me, why did you quit the job on day one itself? What is the specific reason? These days, youngsters are so jumpy, indecisive, and uncertain about what they want, where they go, and why they go. It is a most unfortunate decision to quit on day one. Something must have happened to make you quit on day one. I hope nobody forced you to join the company. On your own volition, on your own desire or intent, you joined the company? Then why did you quit? Whether you work for one day or one hour, the moment you have reported for duty, you are an employee. Please remember that.

As some learned colleagues have mentioned above, there is nothing free in this world. Every organization spends money, efforts, and resources for going through resumes, shortlisting, identifying candidates, calling them for an interview, deploying senior personnel for an interview, preparing offer letters, contacting the candidate for the possible date of joining, briefing the candidate, and orienting the candidate. See, so many activities precede before you join the company and quit the company like throwing out a smoked cigarette. If you think you were very clever in leaving the job in a huff and then asking here about the repercussions... These implications, you should have thought of before even joining! Can you imagine how much hardship the company must be going through right now, starting from square one to identify a replacement for your short-lived service of one day!

Anyway, it is your life, and all the baggage comes along with you only. Be stable in your mind and thoughts, take time to decide on your plans, consult around, and then implement. It is not like jumping into water and asking for swimming lessons through email!

I regret to mention here that many HR professionals are only advising the candidate to go quiet, to go silent, switch off the mobile phone, run away to Rishikesh, and whatnot. Please don't try to be a devil's advocate. It will be useful if you tell them the facts instead of converting them into white-collared criminals from now onwards—how to jump bail, etc. Let them face the reality and accept the repercussions. Advise them to make decisions consciously and on their own, instead of pushing them to take legal recourse for doing something unethical. Can any HR person here say that what she has done is right? Did you bother to find out why she quit the job on day one itself? How many of us here have joined an organization and not reported the next day, boldly stating it with a happy face in a forum like this?

My earnest request to all: please do not support such runaway vagabonds who do not honor their commitment and take responsibility. I know it is not a capital crime, nor is it something all of us can support.

Just imagine if you are the HR person of the organization where she worked for one day and quit! How would you feel right now? I leave it to your conscience to decide.

I am clearing up my situation here again.

1. They issued an appointment letter in which the clause is mentioned.
2. Are all formalities of joining complete on the first day? Yes, almost, but I didn't submit my last employer's experience certificate and relieving letter as I will get it after some time. I also didn't open a bank account provided by the company and didn't log in with the ID given by them. My access card (swipe) has also not been given to me.

Regards,
Harshita

Dear NK SUNDARAM, I quit the job on [insert specific day] because I did not get the opportunity to do the work discussed in the interview. Only managing Excel sheets offered no future growth. Thus, I left. When I tried to speak to seniors on [specific day], they mentioned that I would gradually adapt. However, my question to you is: I really don't want to work in that company. They still want to retain me. Should I be concerned about any clause regarding a 2-month salary?

Regards,
Harshita

Patience and Adaptation in Professional Growth

Rome was not built in a day. As your seniors rightly told you, you have to start adapting yourself to the situation, learn new skills, and only then can you become a complete professional. Overnight, you can't achieve success. If you are restless and impatient on the first day, trying to match what they told you during the interview with what you are asked to do, remember there is no harm in learning new things in life. Nobody can teach you new skills. When you get an opportunity, grab it with both hands instead of running away on the first day.

I started my career as a stenographer but retired as a Sr. DGM/Head of HR after 30 years. During this time, I graduated, did a PG in HR, pursued a Diploma in Russian Language, countless soft skills, and more. Had I been impatient like you, I would be nowhere at this point in time.

Since they have mentioned the clause in the appointment letter, they may not catch you, but they can always give you trouble if they want for deserting the company on the first day. Much depends on how they treat your sudden absence without you conveying or communicating your reasons for leaving the job abruptly.

You have to wait and watch the situation. As someone has rightly mentioned above, these days, a person can be tracked very easily. You have to do one thing after another to erase the track you have been leaving behind in your movement.

You have to take a chance...

Kind regards

Hi Harshita,

Let's try to understand this -

When a company wishes to terminate us, we expect the company to give us some warning and provide us with some time so that we can look for another job and transition smoothly. If that is not possible, we would at least expect them to compensate us for the notice period.

So, is it unfair if the company expects the same from us? Is it too much on their part to ask us for this?

Now, let's change the scenario -

You were selected by this firm, you joined in, all your joining formalities were completed, an agreement was given, and clauses were accepted. You worked enthusiastically the whole day. The next day, you were looking forward to a better experience when at the gate, you found out that your name was removed from the employer's list or muster roll.

Wouldn't you be agitated and curse the HR and others for the lack of clarity and communication?

Please understand that the company that appoints you has people working on different things. It is not that they have a vacant position, they advertise it, and it gets filled automatically. Proper planning, costing, and scheduling are done. Tremendous time is spent on screening resumes, shortlisting candidates for interviews, and finally selecting and onboarding.

Sure, you might have had a genuine reason to take such a drastic step, but what is it? What made you decide to leave the company within just 8 hours of starting your journey?

Now, let's consider the implications -

1. You didn't inform your seniors about your departure, so you might be marked as absconded.

2. They may or may not contact you for notice period pay, but if they check your future employers, they may share their experience with you. This could potentially cause trouble for you.

3. In the future, you may never be able to apply to this company or its sister companies as they may have marked you in red.

4. Will your conscience allow you to do this?

As Mr. Sundaram rightly said, Rome wasn't built in a day.

When I was hired at my current place, I had nothing to do in my first week but idle away my time. Now, I seldom have time to breathe. Just because your first day was a little relaxed doesn't mean you should quit. If they had overburdened you on the first day, you might have run away and never wished to work again.

Everything has its pace, dear. While driving, your car accelerates slowly; you can't go from 0 to 100 directly. You have to cross each speed limit before reaching 100.

I hope this provides some clarity. Absconding may harm your career, please don't do it just for your own sake.

Another thing - I didn't say all of this because I'm in HR and wish to scare you off. Everything I mentioned is to show you the reality that happens. If you go through the site, you'd understand how many people actually regret absconding.

I hope this helps. 

Regards

I agree with Ankita and Sundaram. But first, I would like to know: Do you have another offer in your kitty, or have you accepted an offer? How can one think of quitting a job (whether 1 day or 1 year old) without having alternate employment? It seems so bizarre that someone who has gone through the rigors of getting a job and completed the formalities would think of quitting on Day-1 itself!

Reasons Not to Draw Conclusions from Initial Tasks

Moreover, the very fact that you were asked to do some Excel sheet does not mean anything at all by way of drawing any conclusion for the following reasons:

- Initially, no one is sure whom the newcomer should report to; it needs to be decided, taking into consideration the changes that may have taken place during the recruitment lead time.
- The place or position of posting needs to be confirmed again to accommodate any changes in the meantime.
- There is a lag in making appropriate seating arrangements.
- No one is too confident, free, or eager to give a new joinee worthwhile work on Day-1 itself.
- One has to prove oneself on the job and display one's caliber through delivering high-quality output before expecting anything worthwhile.

It seems either you are not telling the whole truth, or you are very casual about choosing a job. In any case, it would be fair if you give notice, continue till the notice period, and then quit this job unless you feel it's the company's fault in selecting you.

Warm regards.

Well, reading through all this, I would say the whole problem lies with the HR of the company you joined. Every company and workplace must have an Employee Induction program for a new entrant. This will enable them to comfortably board the ship and sail happily. All the HR professionals in the thread are focusing on what he has done by absconding, but none are reflecting on themselves to admit that HR has erred.

Hi Rukshandeva, I request you to shed some light on the subject. How do you wish to be inducted on your first day, and what would make you stay? I would be happy to learn, trust me. But if you do not have suggestions, please refrain from blaming HR. The point was very well cleared by Mr. Raj Kumar. Yet if you think there was a way HR could have handled the situation differently, I am sure all of us would want to learn for our future reference.

Regards

Yes, you are very correct. I have a few job offers in my pocket, which is why I made an instant decision regarding my future growth. My question was about the payment of a 2-month salary. In short, could you please clarify whether I need to pay any amount to the company or not? I also signed the appointment letter clause without submitting my experience letter and relieving letter from my last employer. Does this impact my joining formalities?

Thank you.

Harshita,

I hope you have made a better decision.

Regarding Your Main Query

On your joining day, they gave you your appointment letter and made you aware of the terms and conditions, including the separation policy. Hence, it is expected of you to abide by these policies. The joining formalities would not depend on you submitting your documents.

Do one thing, talk to your HR and seniors and state that you've got a better opportunity and would like to pursue it for future growth, and inquire if something could be worked out on mutual terms regarding this situation.

Since you've only worked for 1 day, I hope HR cooperates. But be prepared for questions like:

• If you had other offers in your hand, why did you instantly accept our offer when you could have asked for a couple of days' time?

• When did you get this offer? Were you anticipating it? Why did you not mention the same in the interview?

Surely the second point is very fishy; had you mentioned this in the interview, it could have significantly impacted your chances. Be prepared with constructive answers to handle the situation maturely.

However, if the company strictly follows the policies, you might end up paying a 2-month notice. Evaluate the pros and cons and try to work out mutual terms with HR.

Hope this helps.

Harshita, you may be on a probation period, so no notice period is required from either side. Don't worry; that will not harm you in any way.

For All Team Members:

See, with reference to her posts, she wants only a particular answer to her question. She is least bothered about the company's loss or any other issues because she has job offers in hand. Your long replies will not work, so save your time and energy for other needy members.

Chill HR (Always Smile)

As rightly mentioned by Ankita, you should talk to the HR person and then leave. Since you have only worked for one day, they may not be that strict. Also, if you have decided to quit the job, as a professional, you should inform HR about your departure. Absconding is not the right word or behavior to be displayed by a professional. Be assertive and bold enough to express your views to anyone; this approach would help you lead a peaceful career.

Regards,
Ganesh

I don't think the clause of a 2-month salary will be applicable in your case. It would have been applicable if you had been there for a few months and undergone any training, etc. As per me, you should talk to your HR and discuss your concerns, like the job description was not clear at the time of the interview, and exit in a professional manner. Make sure you make good, careful, and calculated decisions next time, and most importantly, do research before you go to an interview about the company, its products and services, job role, and responsibilities, etc.

Regards

While I concur with Ankita, I have a question for you: What do you want - a peaceful exit without fear of legal action or to live in fear of being caught? If the answer to the above question is "yes," then pay up. This may leave you poorer financially, but your professionalism will remain intact to a large extent. I hope this answers your query.

Regards

What N.K. Sundaram has mentioned is absolutely right. From day one, no company will immediately assign you tasks. They will observe your behavior and attitude during the first five to six days in the office. If you truly had the eagerness to learn, you would have stayed in that company. Being in HR is a highly responsible role. How can you jump to the conclusion on the first day that the management broke promises? It is also unfair to your career to not strive to be a good employee.

Please inform me if I have erred in my words.

Regards,
Vengopala B A
Manager-HR

Understanding Your Employment Agreement

The question arises whether you have accepted the appointment letter. Even if yes, the clause of a 2-month notice will come into force after the completion of your probation period (until you accept the confirmation letter). Without accepting the confirmation letter, it is not valid. There may be a 7-day notice or even less or nil. Please read your appointment letter carefully and relieve your tension.

Regards,
Rajiv Singh.

There is no probation period. The employee is confirmed from day 1. I have read the appointment letter, and there is no specification about a probation period. It means the employee is confirmed from day 1.

It is strange to me that you want to quit a job on the very day of resumption! In any case, employees have the liberty to leave a job they are no longer interested in, as long as they fulfill the necessary conditions.

Understanding the Terms of Your Offer

First, you need to understand the terms of the offer very well. There is usually a clause relating to the probation period. Check to see if the requirement of returning two months' salary in lieu of notice relates to the probation period or after the confirmation of your appointment.

It is not likely that an employee will be required to refund two months' salary if they have not been confirmed on the job—especially since you have not even earned any salary from the organization.

It is advisable that you resign properly by satisfying all conditions. Job-related information has a way of going around. Best of luck.

Regards.

This has turned out to be a long and interesting discussion for all of us to learn. However, Harshita is not in the least bothered.

Answering Harshita's Question

Harshita, once you have signed the appointment letter and have worked (even for an hour), you are bound by the terms of the letter. You, therefore, have to give a 2-month notice or pay a notice pay of 2 months. The company can file a case against you and pursue it. Chances are courts will not grant it since the person has worked for only one day.

On the other hand, the cost of fighting a legal battle against the company will be very expensive for you. Just came to another case like yours in the previous week; the case had 55 hearings to date (actually 55 adjournments). You pay the lawyer each time. Even if he is charging you 1000 per day, that's 55000 gone and in addition, your cost of travel to the court and 55 times you apply to the company for leave.

Rest, the other members have already advised you.

I wish to share my views on the induction debate. Of course, I have the hindsight view that very clearly shows the HR was not at fault, except for having chosen a bad candidate.

Induction Practices

Induction can take any shape. Tata has a 15-day induction for a certain level of new employees. On the other hand, for some junior postings, it's 1 hour. It's context-sensitive. Few companies or positions need an extensive induction.

Our company, for example, is a team of 40 consultants and auditors working from 3 offices. Induction in our office involves the introduction of the new employee to the team sitting in the office where they will be working, and an email to the 4 managers about the person joining. As and when they will work with other teams, they will get to meet them. (Compared to us, the HR there has done much more).

The candidate was adequately briefed about the firm during the interview (or has read about us before applying). So we don't need to cover that. For some critical matters, we need to get an NDA signed, which takes 2 days. Therefore, in some cases, the person cannot even access previous reports until then and basically does time pass or helps someone or generally just gets to know people.

Even when someone starts working, they are given small and simple work, and the real critical work is given only after the team lead or manager is sure the new employee will be able to do it properly.

Handling Early Departures

Someone leaving after 1 day or in the first week also happens; we generally say good riddance. The manager will give HR a piece of his mind for selecting a poor candidate, but he also knows that HR would not be able to judge properly during an interview for such a thing.

The original poster has behaved in an immature and unethical manner. But there is no shortage of such a person. It's better we all note down the name so if she comes to any of our offices, we treat with caution. (Nah, we won't. Too many such candidates are floating around anyway)

I agree and appreciate the inputs provided by Sundaram, Ankita, and Saswata. I hope Harshita picks some good lessons from this discussion thread. I personally recommend Harshita to scale up and adopt a mature and professional behavior if you wish to succeed professionally.

It is perfectly fine if you have chosen to quit in a day, probably because you are lucky to have other offers, hence you feel it doesn't matter to just move on. Let me share a real-life incident about myself.

While I was pursuing my graduation, I had an assignment with a reputed company to assist the Executive Assistant of the Chairman & Managing Director. They were aware I was studying and were flexible about my timing/leave plan, etc. I worked in this company for around a week and quit without informing since I felt that the work was boring because I was given filing work and some bit of drafting of letters, etc. I received a follow-up call from the company, but I said that I had discontinued (least realizing how immature and unprofessional I was behaving). Four years down the line, I completed an MBA (HR) and was seeking a job. Incidentally, I got an interview opportunity in the same company, and I was excited to grab this chance. I did very well in the interview and got positive indications that I was among the top 2 candidates. The job profile and package were too good for a beginner like me. I finished my process and was leaving. Accidentally, I bumped into a lady who I thought was almost a stranger. The next day, I received a call from the Executive Assistant, and she spoke to me. Of course, I did not forget I worked with the same company earlier, but since it was just a week, I thought no one would remember. The EA spoke nicely, telling me that it was good to see me yesterday and inquired if the interview was good, etc. The call ended on a positive note, and my chances of clicking this dream job apparently turned negative.

Believe me, it was a lesson of a lifetime for me. Someone rightly said it is a small world, and we could bump into anyone anytime. Hence, do not damage the path which you may have to travel sometime in the future. Please quit like a mature professional. Speak to HR and inform them of your decision and ask them if you need to complete the exit formalities. Since you were there just 1 day, they may not insist you serve a 2-month notice and may waive it off but will remember you as a mature professional.

ALL THE BEST!!!

Regards, Gia

Resignation and Termination Clause

It is your duty to resign as per the termination clause contained in the terms of your appointment letter. If no formal appointment letter was issued, you can terminate the contract at any time simply by serving a notice. However, if you leave without issuing any notice, then after giving you 2-3 notices, they may treat you as absconding and may ultimately terminate your contract.

Your case was a very important lesson for people (pity you had to learn it the hard way). But think of a case where you would go to another company and then find someone who knew what you have done in the original case, and you lose an opportunity. Unfortunately, this is not considered by most people when they walk off without information or notice.

Dear Harshita,

Thank you for your disclosure. I agree with the opinions and observations preceding my post, especially those from Ankita, who has been constantly following up on your issue.

I shall be brief and to the point:

It seems that despite having a few job offers, you went to this company and 'joined' just to find out if it 'suits' you, in which case you could have continued.

Please go ahead, meet the HR concerned in person, and tell them the truth. Accept your mistake and apologize genuinely and profusely for the inconvenience you have caused to the company and others (you also prevented a needy candidate who could have fit the position).

They will ask you to submit your resignation, incorporating a written apology and appeal for a waiver of notice pay. No good HR or company would hold it against you, as it would reflect badly upon them and also be bad in law (to allow work for a day and penalize two months' salary in lieu of notice pay).

So, your problem is solved; you should feel free of any stress henceforth.

Now, you shall again be going to the next company (since you have a couple of offer letters in hand) and doing the same thing if it does not suit you! If this is likely the case, it is better that you seek to know how to evaluate a job/position/company to ascertain whether it meets your individual requirements, rather than indulging in such misadventure.

Warm regards.

Notice Period and Legal Implications

Please note that you are tied to a 2-month notice period. The company has the right to ask you to pay the 2-month salary (in lieu payment) if you quit. If you refuse to pay, the case may go to court. Bear in mind that you have signed the letter of appointment.

Instead of leaving the company without informing them, it's much better if you discuss the matter with HR. Under the company's discretion, they may allow you to leave peacefully.

In general, most companies can tolerate it if you really insist on quitting because they don't want to keep unproductive employees. However, it shows your weakness in assessing the company before joining them.

Please don't take risks that can ruin your future.

Generally, companies will not pursue legal action, and in your case, you have only been there for a single day. If you have good opportunities in hand, you will definitely select the best one. This has happened to me twice, but I informed the employer the next day.

Understanding the 2-Month Salary Termination Clause

Regarding the 2-month salary termination clause, these types of clauses are always mentioned in appointment letters for the benefit of both employees and employers. This allows both sides sufficient time to search for their requirements.

As HR professionals, we can also understand the problem from the employer's side. That's why, instead of absconding, it is better to provide a justifiable reason and then leave.

Thanks