Feeling Trapped by My Manager's Threats: How Can I Protect Myself and My Career?

Hello Everybody, I have recently posted an issue on Cite HR regarding offer letters and pay slips. Now, I am facing a serious issue with the company, so I would like to get some suggestions from you all.

Colleague's Incident in the UK

Recently, one of my colleagues returned from the UK. While he was there, he unfortunately lost his company system (in India) and all the data. When he came back, my manager accused him and fired him from the company, even accusing all the employees without any proof.

Senior Colleague's Experience

In another incident, my senior colleague, who has worked for the company since its inception, received a good offer from a top MNC. When he discussed this with my manager, the manager accused him of cheating and spoke poorly about his caste and others. He once said that we, the employees working for him, are like slaves.

Threats from Management

Later, he threatened us all, saying that if anyone wants to quit, he would tell the background verification team that we have stolen systems and other company assets. He even threatened that if we leave against his will, he would file a case against us and send our profiles to NASSCOM so that we cannot work anywhere.

Lack of Employee Documentation

To this day, we have not received Form 16, ID cards, or other documents proving our employment with this organization. Whenever a new project is coming, he never provides any documents regarding the project and only communicates requirements via Skype.

Workplace Environment

In an organization, is it a crime if two employees are close and help each other while working? He always calls me and speaks very badly to me. I don’t know what to do now. I want to quit this company as soon as possible because he is threatening us and constantly fighting with us. My manager is the whole and soul of this company; we don’t have HR or similar support.

I don’t want to lose my self-respect just because he is paying me and expects me to work for him under any condition. It is really disturbing my career.

Please give me some suggestions regarding this issue.

Thanks in advance.

Consider Leaving the Company

If the situation is as dire as you describe, it might be best to leave the company. If what you have said is true, you may not receive any support from your company after you depart. However, one thing I don't understand is why, given that you all work in IT, you are tolerating this situation. Why aren't you recording his unethical behavior on mobile devices, capturing his Skype conversations, or automatically recording phone calls?

Do this, hand it over to the courts, and resolve the matter. Use this evidence to damage his reputation with NASSCOM and advance your career. What is preventing you from taking these actions?

Regards,
Ashutosh Thakre

Dear Ashutosh, Thank you for replying. Today, after so many days, my manager spoke to each employee one-on-one. What he said is, if you want to leave the company, you should serve a minimum 2-month notice period. What should I do now? Should I resign right now and serve for 2 months, or what else can I do? I am not able to understand. Moreover, some people have revealed our company's confidential details to customers, and now my manager is saying that he will file a case against all of us to NASSCOM and to whomever it may concern.

Company Software Concerns

One thing in my company, no software or OS is genuine. If my manager files a case, will NASSCOM check his company profile? Will they check if his software is genuine or not, or will they simply speak to us regarding the issue?

Regards, Pavan

You will have to decide for yourself: resign and serve the notice period along with all the letters (which you may doubt you will receive), and then search for a job, or leave right away and search for a job. If your management really wanted to complain, then even after you resign, what stops them from complaining? So, you cannot actually believe in them. Also, think—will NASCOM just blindly believe in a complaint and ban everyone from a particular organization? I don't think so.

Take a decision and then stick with it.

All the Best,

Regards, Ashutosh Thakre

Taking Action Against Workplace Misconduct

Please start creating evidence and gathering witnesses. If you, as a group, can come together and file a case against the individual and the organization, they will realize the seriousness of the situation. This is precisely why, in the good old days, trade unionism flourished! Due to a few bad apples, the company's image (if there was any to begin with!) will be tarnished. As long as there is proof and evidence of all the wrongdoings by those managers, no court will allow them to escape punishment.

Best wishes