Can a Soft Copy of My Appointment Letter Serve as a Valid Document for Salary Changes?

The last company I was working for had emailed me an appointment letter stating the timings, Date of Joining (DOJ), and Salary. However, my salary had increased thereafter, and we were not provided with hard copies of the offer letter/appointment letter. Will the soft copy suffice as a suitable document? Senior members, please answer my query.

A soft copy wouldn't suffice as a suitable document. When you join a new company, they would always ask for the hard copy of all documents from your previous employer. So it would be safe for you to obtain the hard copy from your previous employer.

Validity of Soft Copies from a Legal Perspective

Any soft copy remains a valid document from a legal point of view. It helps if the email is from the company server. However, to be on the safer side, from a legal standpoint, it's best to have the hard copy.

Looking at it logically, the employer is not doing his documentation to help you get a better job. He is only going to do what makes sense for him.

Employer Documentation and Legal Requirements

So, it makes enough sense for the employer to inform you via email that you have received an increment and detail your new salary structure. Nothing in the law makes it compulsory for him to provide this information in writing. You can take a printout of it and keep it for your records. It will also be reflected in your payslip (which is required by law to be given to you). This will be sufficient for any new employer you are planning to join.