How Should My Friend Handle Being Unethically Released Without Notice After Resigning?

My friend was released from the company once she resigned from services without serving her notice period. She was a very good performer in the company and had a very good reputation in the industry. She was emotionally harassed for the past 3 to 4 months by her immediate boss and was released from the company in an unethical manner. She has even sent a letter to the country head and business head, attaching all her performance records, but they have not replied until now. What should be done going forward? I need expert advice as she is emotionally down.

Regards

Advise her to move ahead. It is the company that has lost a valuable asset. She has a lot to look forward to in life. Very soon, this episode will be behind her, and she will have moved on. Forget revenge, redressal, or resolution. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "I was desperate to have the last word! It is better to keep your mouth shut and seem a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." All the best.

While Mr. Robin has a point given the scenario, it is possible that future opportunities will be difficult if reference checks are carried out. No one wants a worker—however good—who apparently created problems in the past.

Seeking Solutions and Experiences

Any views on how to resolve that? Experiences?

Valid question, Hardeep. While there is nothing she can do if the company or its authorized representative takes it upon themselves to harass her even after she has quit, she can carry forward letters of appreciation received from within the company. These letters could be from bosses who appreciated her work while she was there. Additionally, as the thread starter mentions that she has a good reputation in the industry, she can gather more appreciation from professionals in other industries to strengthen her case. Ultimately, it is up to her next employer to interpret these documents as they wish, but at least she will have presented a clear case for herself.

Assuming what the starter has said, that she has a good reputation in the industry, is right. She should not worry about harassment. Every single organization needs a good performer. Even the performer has to work within a framework. As professionals, we must never take anything too personally; we should keep our focus on improving ourselves. In some places, even junior employees harass the seniors by being haughty, undisciplined, and unreliable.

In this case, she should take it as feedback and work on herself to be a better worker and a better leader. Performing well alone does not guarantee you a job. Even Steve Jobs was fired, Piloo Mody was fired, and Iacocca was fired from Ford, all of whom were exceptionally talented and performing individuals. In life, it is always my fault, and let me correct myself in a way that I become acceptable; then I will be successful. Stand by ethics and truth. Jolt is temporary; we will move on to roll.

Regards,
Natarajan Iyer
Consultant, Joy of Living
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

It would help the members give suggestions with better clarity and practicability in mind if you can give more details about the following aspects:

1. How long was your friend working in this company, and in what role/designation? While comparisons with Steve Jobs, Piloo Mody, Iacocca, etc., may be realistic, they may not be appropriate, given the level differences with your friend.

2. Can you please elaborate regarding your remarks of being 'emotionally harassed for the past 3 to 4 months by the immediate boss'? Given that your friend is a top performer, as per your thread, this could be due to multiple reasons. Which of them is it? Was the 'immediate boss' a new boss, or was she working under him/her earlier too, and the harassment resulted from any new/unforeseen developments?

3. Also, what do you mean by 'released from the company by an unethical manner'? Was she terminated? Even if she was, she would surely need to be given the relieving letter and other documents.

4. You mentioned 'She has even sent a letter to the country head, Business head attaching all her performance'—please clarify why she needed to send letters to everyone in the company. For what purpose? Was it for her relieving documents? Or any other purpose?

Like the saying goes: "If you want the right answer, you need to ask the right question."

Regards,
TS

I also second Mr. Taj Sateesh. I fail to understand if any employee has resigned from his/her post due to any circumstances/reasons, and the employer is relieving them immediately without asking for his/her notice period, what is the harm? If the employee wants to be relieved sooner or later, then why the hiccups?

Secondly, as Taj Sateesh asked, why did she send a letter to higher authorities? Is it for any explanation asked or for any other reason? And why did the top management reply to her letter when she has already quit her job? If your friend needs any specific reply, then it is requested to ask specifically on the forum to get an appropriate view.

Dear Taj,

She worked with the company for 8 months in a financial services company, handling the corporate channel as a Relationship Manager.

Unfortunately, the industry is not in good shape, and she faced harassment from her immediate boss, who has been with the company for almost 12 years. This was not an isolated incident, as many ex-employees have experienced similar situations. She endured emotional harassment, including public criticism, her boss calling people outside the company to harass her, painting her in a negative light to the business head, providing false reasons for her performance issues, denying his statements when confronted, attempting to poach her clients, gaining favor in the head office unjustly, discrediting her as a non-performer, comparing her unfavorably to another female employee in front of others, and speaking ill of her to male colleagues in her absence. These instances took a toll on her emotionally, leading her to cry daily.

She was abruptly relieved from her position without any breathing space, and the responsibility to inform her was left to a colleague who has not yet conveyed the message. This sudden exit had adverse effects on her, her family, and even the corporate clients who were shocked by her departure. Despite being a performer, she naturally had concerns about the circumstances of her departure.

In an effort to seek justice, she sent a letter to the country head detailing her performance, which included appreciation emails and letters signed by the country head.

I hope my responses shed light on the questions you raised. Thank you for addressing this issue.

Thanks & Regards,

V. Ramnath