Stuck Without Proof of Employment: How to Handle Missing Offer Letters and Salary Slips?

I am in a tough situation and, as I saw that CITEHR proves helpful, I thought of taking your views. I have been working with an organization for the past 3 years, which did not provide me with an appointment letter. They do not have any such system to date. Moreover, they do not issue salary slips, and I am unaware of the breakup of my salary structure. When I consult the accounting department, they do not provide satisfactory answers. Additionally, a small part of my salary is paid in cash, while the major portion is paid through a cheque. I am uncertain if speaking with the management will result in receiving an experience certificate. In this situation, I lack any proof to present to a future company. What should I do?

Please advise.

Thank you.

Legal and Ethical Concerns in Employment

What your company is doing is not legal or ethical. There is no point in working for such companies. Leave at the earliest, and at the time of leaving, request an experience certificate. Keep Xerox copies of your paycheck or any documents revealing your relationship with the company (like ID, punching card, etc.).

Regards.

What I suggest is that you inform them that you require salary slips for the last 3 months for a bank loan or any other purpose before proceeding with switching jobs. I don't think they will provide you with a relieving letter, experience letter, or any other substantial documents. Therefore, you must have some proof with you when joining another job; otherwise, you might end up with a lower package if any documents are not available.

Thank you.

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions. I certainly will speak with them regarding past salary slips and will keep the photocopies of my punch card and ID card as well. However, how should I resolve the issue related to the cash component?

In the current situation, I can't come out of the mess related to the cash part. You need to explain the reality of cash paid in salary wherever you go for a new opportunity. It's better to follow the steps as advised above in the forum and start searching for a new job at the earliest to quit the current situation to prevent further professional loss.

As a professional, be aware and demanding regarding seeking all documentary and compensation proofs relating to all employments in the future.

All the very best.
Thanks

You can request the employer to provide you with a certificate of payment of salary for the purpose of Income Tax, and the same can be helpful to you for your intended purpose. However, your employer would provide this certificate only if the amount paid to you is accounted for by them, which you can inquire about internally.

It is also to be noted that when the employer does not have a system of providing the appointment letter, it is very difficult to introduce this concept all of a sudden.

Understanding Your Company's Structure and Documentation

Firstly, I would like to know how many years the company has been in existence and how many full-time employees your company has. Is it that only a few cadres have not been given documents, or is it everyone? Is the company part of an unorganized sector/industry? Is it a proprietorship or a Ltd. company? These points are essential to provide a better view of the options that can be made available to you.

Proving Your Tenure to Another Company

Since you have been receiving the major chunk of your salary by check, you can simply furnish proof of bank statements for all the years.

Cash Component Inquiry

You state that a small amount is given as cash. Is it given as reimbursement towards any bills you provide? They would have definitely mentioned at the start what the cash component coverage is.

From the email, I presume that you have been working for 3 years, which means you have a comfortable salary, and perhaps the reason you are looking for documents now is that you wish to shift jobs.

Using Your Position as a Bargaining Factor

In which case, if you hold a strong position in the work profile of your company, you can use that as a bargaining factor. Request them that given your tenure, professional work conduct, and your future loyalty to the company, you would like them to at least provide salary slips, perhaps effective from January 1, 2014. (Out of all documents, this is the most important and has all relevant details to establish tenure, salary, leaves, name, etc.)

Hope this helps, and take a discussional tone with the management instead of a confrontational tone. I am sure they will at least hear you out.

Regards,
Deena Jagasia

Three years—what were you doing? The major question is this. Anybody will say, "How come you are not aware of these employment procedures till now?" If at all something can be done in your case, it is to amicably try to gather some employment proofs/evidence (although difficult at this stage) and quit without making much of a hassle, and join at some good place. One clue of your employment is that you said, "some part of your salary was through a cheque." Please save your cheque details of payments for reference in the future. (Keep photocopies of such cheques if issued through the company's account.)

Thanks,
Bijay

Appreciate your responses to the post. It certainly will help.

@Deena Jagasia: It is a Partnership Firm having existed for more than two decades. A renowned group in Pune (do not want to name!). Certainly, an unorganized sector.

The part payment done in cash is in lieu of a fixed salary and not towards any sort of bills, perks, or incentives! No invoice is raised for the same!

Certainly, I am looking for a change now, and that is the reason that I am seeking valid answers, although I am well aware of all these things since I joined!

Yes, I do hold a strong position in the company and have various star performances to my name, but that does not bind these people to help me out in return! Even the people who have worked since the incorporation of the company do not have a say in it!

Hope all your answers are given!

I am going to ask for three months' salary slip and an experience letter. I will keep a copy of my punch card and ID. But I am worried about the cash part, though it is a small amount, it is substantial to complete the CTC.

Regards,
Jessi