Skipped Notice Period: Should I Worry About Not Having a Relieving Letter?

I had resigned from my last company (bank) and didn't serve the notice period. Additionally, my current employer (also a bank) did not ask for a relieving letter from my previous bank, and they waived the requirement for it. This information has been confirmed via email by their HR department.

So, my question is, should I be concerned about obtaining the relieving letter from my previous company? Please advise on this matter for future reference.

Importance of Obtaining Relieving and Service Certificates

It is better to get the relieving and service certificate from any of your employers. Presently, your employer might not have asked for it, but in the future, when you are going to change your employment, you may not be able to substantiate the period where you worked with your previous employer, and that remains blank. Even if you orally explain, you cannot substantiate as you don't have any document.

Moreover, your earlier employer may raise any issue as you were not officially relieved, and you are liable for that.

Thanks and regards,
Kamesh

Thank you for your response. I have received the last company's full and final settlement letter, and they have paid me for all outstanding amounts into my account. The payment slip includes my date of joining and the last day of my work at the company.

However, they have not yet issued me the relieving letter since I did not complete the notice period. What steps should I take to obtain my relieving letter? Are there any favorable conditions for me?

In my opinion, it is always better to sever connections with your employer on a happy note. In your case, if there is a bond that you may have executed at the time of joining the previous bank, your contract of employment will be governed by that. If that bond states that you have to serve a notice for X months before leaving or, in lieu of that, you have to pay an amount of Rs............., which you have not done, it is possible that you may be trying to avoid the payment of the bond amount. If so, it would be difficult for you to avoid that permanently. If not, the problem can be sorted out easily. However, having a relieving letter from your previous employer is needed for your records and future reference. This applies to all your future employments. Make it a habit, before leaving, to collect all the necessary documents.

Regards,
SP Singh

Importance of Obtaining a Relieving Letter

Irrespective of who the employer is, it is always appropriate and safe to obtain a proper relieving letter from the relieving office. In your case, particularly since you just left the bank, there are many handing over and taking over charges involved. You should ensure to obtain the letter by convincing your former employer. This will help avert possible confusion later on (for example, your successor could blame you for not handing over some important papers/files, even if the culprit could be somebody else).

You have to list everything that was in your possession, obtain acknowledgment from the person you are handing over to, and detail what those items are. It is also customary to prepare a narrative status report of various things, list pending matters, follow-ups to be made, due dates, etc. Even if you have to apologize for not serving the notice period, you should apply/request them to condone the mistake. It will always help you in your career to keep your records straight.

Regards

Thank you for the valuable comment. In my case, before leaving the organization with a short period of notice, without serving the notice period, I had obtained all the NOCs from all the concerned departments like IT, finance, and loans, and completed the proper key handover. Now, could you suggest any actionable points for me to follow to obtain a relieving letter from my last organization? I believe it is my right.

Regards,
Rakesh

Have you requested this letter either orally or in writing? If so, what was the outcome? In case it was refused orally, it's better to seek the same by sending an acknowledged formal request letter. How long has it been since you left your previous employer?

Regards,
Rakesh

In a similar thread being discussed, I had commented on the same issue. Is a relieving letter absolutely needed? Not really. When an organization has issued you a full and final settlement order, it is assumed that they have relieved you of your responsibility, and all possible dues on either side have been taken into account and paid. So, this document becomes proof of you leaving the organization on amicable terms. The other document would be your experience letter.

It is good to have but not a case of "what will happen if I don't have it." Just my opinion.

Cheers,
Navneet Chandra