Is It Safe to Join a Company That Wants My Original Certificates for a 2-Year Contract?

I have 7 months of experience in the HR domain, and I left this job because my contract ended. I have received an offer from a growing R&D pharma company (Employee Size=200) as an HR Coordinator. They are asking me to deposit all original educational certificates as part of a 2-year service agreement. Kindly guide me on whether I should join this company or not.

I look forward to your valuable inputs.

Best Regards,
Anil

Holding original documents of an employee is not ethical. A company can take original documents just to scrutinize or verify them. No company should do this; however, it is not against the law. So, if you have no problem depositing your original education documents and you are satisfied with other aspects of this job, such as compensation, benefits, work environment, and company reputation, then you can accept this job.

Are you really prepared to deposit your educational certificates with a company? Please consider the worst-case scenario: in case you want to leave the company (for whatever reason) and they refuse to return your certificates, what will you do? Is the job worth this risk? Please use your common sense; the choice is yours.

I would suggest that you should not hand over your original educational certificates to anyone.

Regards,
Ritesh Shah

Yes, I do agree with Mr. Ritesh's comments. Please do not submit the originals to any company under any circumstances unless it is for verification.

If, after your analysis, you determine that this is the best job for you, it may indeed be so in reality. However, under no circumstances should you deposit your originals, not only with this organization but also with any other entity in your future life. Original documents are necessary for various purposes such as applying for a passport, seeking educational loans, etc. Please pay special attention to Mr. Ritesh Shah's comments above; I wholeheartedly agree with him. Discuss any security measures or bonds with the relevant HR personnel, but do not accept the job if it requires surrendering your original documents.

Suppose, due to some unfortunate accident in your company, all the valuables get lost, including your certificate. Imagine the scenario. Actually, you should advise the company against this practice for the reasons mentioned in the first sentence of mine. We are all working in a democratic country, and such practices are not in tune with the times.

Dear Mr. Hackernil, I second the opinion of the above members like Mr. Shah, etc. You should never compromise with any demand for your personal, hard-earned belongings. The most you can do is present them for verification under the assurance that those original belongings will be returned intact.

As one of the members suggested, if you need them before the end of the so-called bond period for some reasons, what will you do? They will make you beg and cry for your own property. Don't surrender in front of such unethical tactics. There could be many better organizations that will respect you, your belongings (not asking to possess), and offer you career opportunities without making you a bonded laborer. Even a bond does not seem to be a worth-considerable one, not accepted by law in India. It's better you look for another opportunity rather than stooping in front of this company.

All the best,
Suresh

Anil, correct advice has been given by everyone. Ideally, you should follow what they say. But there is always a "but" everywhere! Organizations have bonds; they are legal. They ask for originals, which is also legal. But that's the reality! Would you like to forego an opportunity just because it involves something illegal? So here's my question to you: Is the opportunity worth taking a risk for? Think about it. If you decide to go ahead and accept the offer, here is what you should do:

Make multiple copies of all the documents and have them attested by a competent authority as a "true copy." They are legally valid in all formats and can directly replace the original documentation. In the worst-case scenario where the organization does not return your originals, your life won't come to a halt but will continue smoothly, giving you the space you need to take action if necessary.

Have a good one!

Cheers,
Navneet Chandra

As you know, some employers still use this unethical method to detain their employees at least within the contract period instead of binding them with bonds that would involve tedious litigation in courts. However, it's your decision on how to approach this problem. If the job is lucrative and you are expected to be comfortable with this job, you can do so. It's purely an individual's choice.

The catch here is, as others pointed out, what if you wish to quit within the contract period? You run the risk of sacrificing your originals. However, it's always possible to obtain duplicate copies of your originals from the concerned institutions, which, otherwise, is time-consuming, painful, and creates tension, leaving you feeling helpless in times of need. Consider all pros and cons and decide for yourself. There is no omnibus solution to this.

I agree with you. Certificates are precious. When you enter into an agreement with the company, make sure to ask your HR if, in any case, you want to leave the job. In that situation, you should receive a copy from them with all the necessary signatures above.