Miscommunication with HR Led to Unfair Termination: How Can I Resolve This?

Hello, my name is Pankaj. I gave my interview for Convergys at Vipul Agora for the eCare Comcast process on 14th May. I was selected, and the next day, they told me to submit the documents, which I did. However, due to relocating my house, I was not able to join. Note: I only submitted the documents and didn't attend a single day of training. I had sent a text to HR explaining that due to certain reasons, I would not be able to join. I didn't receive a reply from HR. After 40 days, I received a message stating that my FNF (Full and Final) settlement is done, and I can call on 1800... I inquired why I received this message. They informed me that due to absconding, I would never be able to join Convergys. I explained that I had informed HR. They asked for the number I used, and upon providing it, they realized there was a mistake. HR had written 9 instead of 4, leading to a misunderstanding. It was not my fault. My question is, how can they terminate me? I only submitted the documents and did not attend the training. Please help.

Answer the following questions:

1. When did they ask you to join, and when did you send a message to them?

2. When did you not call them and inform? Did you check whether your message reached them on time?

3. How can you say that you did not do anything wrong when you did not ensure your communication reached them?

4. Have you received the offer letter from them? What did they mention about your joining, and is there any note stating that if you do not join within this week, your offer will be canceled?

According to you, it's your fault.

1. It is your duty to ensure that you have communicated clearly to HR and that your communication has reached them on time. Simply sending a message to a number with your own assumption cannot be right.

2. You cannot expect any company to wait for you and cannot expect the company to act as you wish.

3. Sending your documents to them is okay, but it will not ensure your job, and you cannot claim anything just because you sent all your documents.

4. When they asked you to join or during your interview, you could have informed them about your joining date and should have received their reply to the same.

5. Even though they have not issued a hard copy of the offer letter, they sent the same through mail. You confirmed your joining on the phone based on your acceptance; they proceeded further. They considered you an employee. Since you did not show up at the office, they terminated you and treated it as absconding. Also done F & F.

Regards,

Hello Pankyyy,

Firstly, were you given an appointment letter? If not, there is no employee-employer relationship, hence no absconding, no dues on either side, and you should be considered in the future.

Secondly, you mentioned that you messaged HR regarding your inability to join on the fixed date. However, since you did not receive a response, it would have been advisable to follow up with a call to ensure the message was received.

Thirdly, did you not have the company's landline number? Obtaining it from Google and contacting HR directly could have helped clarify the situation.

In their view, the company may be justified in terming you as absconding if you signed the appointment letter. Even if you didn’t sign the letter, not informing them was a mistake on your part, giving them the right to reject the offer.

I hope this clarifies the situation. If you believe there has been a misunderstanding, please provide further details to shed light on the situation.

I totally agree with Ankita. Just by texting and not confirming whether the message has reached the concerned person, how can you assume that you have played your part well? It's highly unprofessional and irresponsible behavior. When you had the contact number of HR, you should have called them instead of sending a message. You cannot blame the company for this. They have made the right decision. Apart from that, I personally feel that no person in this world gets so busy that he or she cannot take 5 minutes out of their schedule to make an important call like this.

Please copy all the above views from me as well. However, let me add something else.

Were You Forced to Shift Your Residence?

1) Were you forced to shift your residence in a very short span? If not, you would have communicated the same to your concerned HR at the time of the interview and negotiated the joining date. If yes, as soon as you decided to shift, you should have communicated.

Professional Communication

2) Sending an SMS describes your professionalism. Aren't we using our laptops? We spend so much of our day googling, Facebooking, and engaging in other networking activities.

Responsibility in Informing HR

3) Being an HR professional myself, I see many people informing their managers/HR that they are taking a leave today. Aren't we mature enough? Isn't it our responsibility to get approval? Why don't we understand the business contingencies?

Professionalism in Communication

4) Imagine your girlfriend/boyfriend texts you saying they are not meeting you when you are waiting for them in a coffee lounge/public park. Wouldn't you have a conversation? The same applies with employers (with employers, you need to be more formal and professional).

Nevertheless, take this as a learning opportunity and strive to act professionally.

You are at fault in a few places. If you are a fresher, then I won't blame you for that. Submitting documents does not confirm your employment with the organization. Your employment starts when you visit the premises on the date of joining and sign the Joining letter or Employment contract.

Kindly check if you have given any such date for joining and if there was any communication if you failed to turn up. If they have arranged training for you and you didn't show up, then it's certainly a loss to them, and they have the right to blacklist you for future employment.

You have already failed to communicate through the right channel, so I request you to meet them, explain your situation, and request them to reconsider you for the position offered or for future employment. Be polite with your words. If you ask them, "how can you do this to me," then you will surely get negative responses.

If they have selected you, then you are an important resource for them, and they would love to have you in their organization. Give it a try.

All the best,

Abhishek

I may not have grasped the facts correctly. But if the candidate has not joined, where is the question of FnF and absconding? I believe there might be an error somewhere. You said you didn't attend training, but had you joined? Your post is unclear on this. If you didn't join, you are right. They can't terminate you. But if you joined and then didn't attend training, then they are right.

Keep your communication clear and official. It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure the message he/she has sent is delivered to the person intended.

Wishing you the best.