Feeling Trapped by Bond and Harassment: Should I Leave My HR Job in Kerala?

Need Help

I am currently employed in a private firm situated in a rural area in Kerala as an HR Manager. I have been in this firm for the past 11 months. I have also signed a bond of Rs.50,000 against the training expense, which I have to pay the company if I leave before 2 years. I was forced to accept this offer due to some unavoidable family commitments. Initially, I was treated very well by the top management, although I have noted a lack of commitment on the part of the employees.

Soon after my confirmation, when my notice period increased to two months, I noticed a significant change in the attitude of the company owner. He started mental harassment, which I sometimes found really humiliating, especially when it occurred in front of a third party. Unfortunately, as the notice period is two months, I cannot apply to any other firm for a job. If I leave the company and search for a job, it is also tough to get a job in HR. Recently, one employee of our company had to leave soon after completing the bond due to personal reasons and hence did not serve the notice period. The employee was not given a relieving letter or an experience letter even after his repeated requests and was told that paying compensation for the balance notice period is not as per the rules of the firm.

Can anybody provide me with a solution to this? Now I am confused. Should I leave the job and search for another? I don't think I will have the patience to wait until the completion of the bond, as I am totally disappointed with the job.

Regards

Well, there are some companies that have notice periods ranging from one to three months or more, depending on job profiles, company policies, etc. Therefore, that should not be an issue when seeking a new job in some reputable companies as they understand this well.

Before lodging a complaint with the employer, please assess your performance first. If you are a strong performer, consult with your HR first and try to understand any issues from your end.

Furthermore, I would advise serving the notice period even if you have decided to leave the job to validate your position. If, despite this, they do not provide an experience certificate or relieving letter, you can provide evidence by showing your appointment letter, resignation letter with dates, and the final date of leaving the company. Explain this situation to your new employer.

I believe that avoiding the situation is not always the solution; initially, you should attempt to resolve any issues from your side.

Thank you for your feedback. I also agree that there might be companies with more than one notice period. Generally, the trend I have seen in companies is that they prefer candidates who can join immediately. In that case, a candidate with a 2-3 months notice is likely to get rejected. Looking for a job after resignation is also a tough decision as there is no certainty in that regard.

Regarding the performance part, I have always completed my work on time and ensured quality in the same. I don't have another HR person to ask about this issue, as I am the only person handling the HR department here.

As you have mentioned that you are the only person in HR, the probability of you getting relieved without serving the 2 months' notice period is bleak. For the same reason, I am sure your prospective employer will see reasoning in your seeking to serve the full notice period of 2 months. Since you have signed a bond for 50K, I would recommend that you fulfill the bond period as getting relieved without a hassle is quite important. As another member has suggested, take some time for introspection on what went wrong suddenly after your confirmation. In some owner-managed companies, employees are pushed and nudged to deliver the best. If you can identify the root cause for the attitudinal change of your CEO, you will be able to deliver your best.

My suggestion is, never quit and then start looking for a job, as you may not find one to your liking and could end up in a disaster.

Regards,
M.V. Kannan

I appreciate your suggestion. I am also of the same viewpoint that looking for a job after resignation is quite tough. However, waiting for a job with a two-month notice period is also very challenging. I am confused about my career now.

Introspection on What Went Wrong

Regarding your question on introspection of what went wrong, I am sure that nothing went wrong after my confirmation. But when my confirmation was due, I had reminded my employer about my appraisal. That day, I noticed that he was unnecessarily trying to find out my faults. However, the next day he was okay, so I didn't think much of it again. Later, he told me that he would first confirm me and then discuss the increment.

When I discussed this with the previous HR person, he informed me that he hadn't received any increment, citing poor performance as the reason, and his probation period was extended (which was new information for me). Consequently, he was not confirmed and had only a one-month notice period. Learning from his experience, I didn't show much initiative during my confirmation. As a result, my increment and confirmation coincided.

Regards.

I understand your current situation. As a support function, HR is often neglected. My suggestion is to try to get along with your boss and impress him with your work. In the meantime, also explore other job opportunities.

A 2-month notice period is typical, and there is a possibility of rejection due to this notice period, and vice versa. However, keep trying and never give up. You never know when your efforts will lead to a great opportunity.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further assistance.

Regards

Waiting for a good opportunity with a two-month notice period is also tough. It is really painful to see an offer slipping from your hands just because of the notice period. I had an experience recently. I am ready to wait for a good opportunity and to jump on it. But the vacancies generally don't wait for us to complete the notice period.

Dear Syno, I appreciate the fact that you have done introspection, and it appears that the management attitude changes after confirmation. Probably it is an owner-managed company. I do agree that some companies insist on joining immediately. In my opinion, if you explicitly state that you have to serve a 2-month notice period at the time of the preliminary interview itself, the matter may be a little easier. Many employees do not state this in the preliminary interview and just mention that the notice period is 2 months. When the prospective employer gives an offer and states that you have to join immediately, they often accept the offer and go through a lot of mental agony on both sides. On one hand, the current employer is unwilling to relieve them without serving the notice period, and on the other hand, the prospective employer is unwilling to wait until the notice period is completed.

Moreover, every employer will want the employee to join immediately; this is because many times the employer is unable to find a replacement during the notice period of the existing employee. Hence, they tend to put pressure on the new candidate. However, if you can explain your viewpoint, there is a possibility that your prospective employer will see the logic in your statement.

Reasons for Employer Pressure

This trend among employers has arisen due to several reasons. To list a few:

a) Employees tend to have more than one offer and keep negotiating with their prospective employers until they get the best. Hence, even after selecting and accepting an offer, the candidate tends to migrate towards prospective employment with a lucrative salary. The employer who shortlisted them first and gave them an offer is kept in the dark, and finally, they realize that the candidate is unlikely to join, restarting the recruitment process.

b) Employees tend to negotiate with their current employer even after accepting an offer and stay back without informing the prospective employer who offered them a job.

Hence, it is imperative that you impress upon your prospective employer the importance of your current assignment and your position. I am sure any sensible employer will be willing to wait if they find that you are the candidate they are looking for.

Keep us updated.

Regards, M.V. Kannan