Feeling Undervalued at Work: Should I Stay or Move On from My HR Role?

I am here to seek your advice on my situation. Kindly help me solve my problem. I have a work-related inquiry, and I am explaining my situation to you. Kindly go through it.

Background of My Employment

I am working as an HR in a startup BPO outsourcing company. The company started in November 2013 (approved registration by the government). I joined in mid-September 2013. When I went for the interview, the directors of the company conducted it. I shared my experience and knowledge with them. I have 2 years of experience as a Recruiter and HR Admin. They asked me to join the company the very next day. At that time, they offered me a salary of Rs. 15,000 for the first month and assured me they would increase it the following month. I joined as HR without any letter. I received my appointment letter at the end of November 2013. They offered me Rs. 21,000 per month (net salary) as HR Manager (for the first month Rs. 15,000 and from the second month onwards Rs. 21,000).

Interview and Expectations

During the interview, they asked if I knew about salary calculation and recruitment. I answered yes, as I have knowledge of these areas and have taken some professional training. They had high expectations from me, believing I could manage everything. They gave me the HR Manager designation and power. However, with 2 years of experience, I was not entirely eligible for that position. I suggested they could recruit me as an HR Executive or HR Assistant, but they still gave me the HR Manager designation and generated the appointment letter.

Change in Behavior and Salary Issues

I tried to support them with my experience and knowledge, but suddenly after October 2013, their behavior changed, and they took back my appointment letter. For the first 15 days of September 2013, they paid me a salary based on Rs. 15,000. I received my October 2013 salary on 30th November 2013, calculated on Rs. 13,000 per month. On 3rd December 2013, they informed me that I was not meeting their expectations for the respective salary, so they could only offer Rs. 13,000 per month for my position. It was up to me whether to continue working or quit. I was surprised by this decision, made without informing me. I spent 3 months there with full dedication, and they also withheld Rs. 7,000 from my November salary. I didn't confront them but asked them to mention any issues as soon as they noticed them.

Current Situation and Request for Advice

Currently, I am working with this company without any document. Their way of communicating has also changed, and they are trying to underestimate me in every situation.

Seniors, kindly let me know what I should do. Should I leave the company or stay? I want to learn as I am at the entry level in my career.

Note:

1. I have 2 years of experience as a Recruiter & HR Admin.
2. I am working without any document.
3. They have withheld Rs. 7,000 of my salary.
4. I am attaching my resume (experience, knowledge).

Please give me some suggestions on what I should do.

Thanks in advance.

Have a good day.

Yes, my company got registered in Nov 2013. I got selected in Sep 2013. I received my appointment letter after one month. My fixed salary for the first month was Rs. 15,000/-. From the 2nd month onwards, it's Rs. 21,000/-.

I asked them not to give me the manager-level position as I have 2 years of experience in this field. I also informed them that I need some guidance. I took a scanned copy of the appointment letter when they asked for it back. I have a salary slip. I am not concerned about the salary package; I want to learn. However, the problem now is that they are mistreating me. In this situation, what should I do?

They are withholding Rs. 7,000/- from my salary without any documentation. What should I do in this situation? I want to learn and improve myself, but without guidance, how is it possible? Regarding the salary slip, I sought advice from senior members on CiteHR, and they advised me on what steps to take.

Kindly provide guidance on the proper course of action. Thank you in advance.

Regards.

The first disconnect I see is the quality of language in your email and the CV you have attached. If you really had done all that you claimed in your CV, you should have been able to handle the position offered to you—especially after 2 years of experience. Since you have admitted you have not been able to do so, I suspect there is selective reporting of the facts of the case by you. If you are what you claim in your CV, please do the job well and demand the salary due. If you are not in a position to fulfill the role and responsibility given to you, it would be a good idea to accept the truth and look for another job.

Thank you, Busundhara Mam. I am not looking for salary; I just need documents. Nothing else. Till now, they have not provided proper documents. As I told them I am not able to handle all those responsibilities, I need some senior support. After this, their behavior has changed towards me. That is why I am worried. I can search for a new opportunity with my experience and knowledge. But they are paying a salary. The total salary amount of Rs. 7000 + 13000 (November month's salary) is pending. If I leave the company as soon as possible, then I will lose that amount.

That is the typical situation. I don't have a problem learning; I want to improve. But they are misbehaving with me. That is the problem. I need a solution for that. Please give me suggestions on that point.

Your doubt is not clear, and you yourself are not clear about your requirement. You received your salary of Rs. 15,000 for September 2013, Rs. 21,000 for October 2013, and Rs. 13,000 for November 2013. You are now claiming that Rs. 7,000 was deducted incorrectly. Please explain how this amount was deducted and in which month this deduction occurred. Additionally, you are claiming for the November 2013 salary and an unexplained deduction of Rs. 7,000. Kindly provide a clear explanation to the members so that they can guide you properly.

Thank you.

Apart from what the seniors have advised you, I would only tell you that you lack confidence where the problem has arisen. As advised by Busundara, send an email to the concerned person regarding your appointment letter and salary, which you and your management are well aware of, as we cannot understand from your query.

Last but not least, since you have accepted that you cannot work without the help of any seniors, search for a job immediately where you can work under the guidance of any seniors where you feel comfortable. The company may be in search of an HR professional who can handle HR functions independently, so be careful.

Your posts still have a lot of discrepancies.

Timeline Discrepancies

1. You were interviewed in September 2013, asked to join the next day, and received your appointment letter a month later at the end of November 2013. I see a month missing.

Salary and Payment Issues

2. You mention ₹7,000 being withheld and not paid to you. You were given the option of leaving immediately or working at a lower salary of ₹13,000. You accepted the lower salary, so you are not entitled to ₹21,000. So where is the question of them holding it back?

Misbehavior and Underestimation

3. You talk of "misbehavior" but do not specify what that is.

4. You say they are underestimating you. Well, they realize that they were fooled into hiring you; surely, you don't think they will still be thinking you are very good at your work. Still, if they are underestimating you, prove to them that they are wrong by doing the work better than their current expectation.

Working Without Documents

5. You say you are working without documents. You have an appointment letter (scanned copy) and pay slips. What other documentation are you expecting? A new appointment letter? I am sure it will come once they verify that you at least have that much capability to do what your new job description provides. In any case, I do not understand what the revised letter will give you that the existing (scanned) copy will not.

Salary Concerns

6. You keep saying in your posts that you do not mind the lower salary and you want to learn, but you seem to mind the salary seriously. You do not want to wait for a quarter and then approach the matter with a history of achievement.

I think the writing is on the wall.

Reflection on Job Capabilities

You made claims in your CV and in your interview of certain capabilities that you did not have. You took up a job you were not capable of doing. I suspect you made tall claims during the interview thinking that an HR job must be very easy. Knowing it's a startup, you were quite surely aware that you would be the only person in HR and that you would not have a senior to go to or take guidance.

When you got the designation more than what you asked for, you should have taken up the matter and ensured that they understood where your abilities stand. Now in the first month itself, they found you have overstated your ability and have failed (miserably, I suspect). They should/could have terminated you on the spot (you were in probation and no notice pay would be due). Instead, they offered you an option of working at a lower salary, one that would be in line with your abilities.

Choices Moving Forward

Now you have two choices:

- Leave immediately and get another job (write these three months as a mistake, and don't make the same mistake in the next job).

- Go and speak to the director you are reporting to. Apologize to him for the mistake and your failure to live up to his expectation. Tell him you would like to work here keeping a long-term view and that you will work hard to reach the expectation. Ask him for a bit of patience for 2-3 months. Further, if there is an actual problem with language and behavior, you can ask him to put a stop to it, explaining it is undermining your role and work.

If you do not get a positive response to the above, then you have already reached a stage of no repair and should look for another job anyway.

Regards.

I think you have not mentioned all the things that happened with you. Some points are still not clear. First of all, I don't understand if the company has given you the position of HR Manager, then why did you say you are not able to take responsibilities? You should have taken the opportunities for the post and worked hard instead of showing your weakness that you cannot do so.

Secondly, if you were truthful in your interview with your employer that you would not be able for the subject post, then why are they giving you that post? Why have they forced you to join that HR manager post if you are not able to handle it?

Thirdly, how is it possible that once the organization has given you the appointment letter and then taken it back? I have never seen a scenario where once the appointment letter is signed by you and given to you or any other staff, it can be taken back.

I think you should clear all the hidden things with your organization. For you, I would suggest that you kindly look for another job if they are underestimating you and so on.

Regards,
Supriya