Facing Health Issues and Salary Cuts: Can I Resign Without Paying the Bond?

I joined a reputed IT MNC on April 22nd, 2014, as a fresher. I received 1.5 months of training in Bangalore and was then posted to Chennai. Recently, I got married, and my husband resides in Hyderabad. I signed a bond for 1.5 years, stating that if I quit during this period, I have to pay ₹125,000. Initially, I was promised an annual salary of ₹300,000 upon joining. However, after moving to Chennai, the salary was revised to ₹17,546, which, after various deductions, amounts to only ₹14,500. Due to some personal health issues, I needed to undergo tests in Hyderabad weekly, leading to increased expenses. Despite discussing my salary concerns with HR for the past two months without any resolution, I have decided to resign. Upon informing HR of my decision, they mentioned that quitting now would be considered as absconding. Since my tenure is only 5 months, I do not require a relieving or experience certificate. Can the company enforce the payment of the bond amount?

Thanks.

Unfortunately, yes! According to the company's policy, if an employee quits before the bond period, he/she shall be liable to pay the penalty amount. You can talk to HR and negotiate for a valid solution. On medical grounds, sometimes the company may provide benefits to the employee. Sometimes the company will grant you leave without pay until you are fit to resume your work. You can talk to HR and inquire more about your company's policy regarding this.

Regards

To start with, if you were expecting to get married in 1.5 months, I'm assuming that you knew where your fiancé worked, so you should either have informed the company of the same and asked for a posting in Hyderabad or not joined in the first place. Why you signed a bond in this situation is beyond me.

Please check your offer letter to see if the ₹300,000 was Net/Gross pay or CTC, as it makes a huge difference in the steps you could take.

Do you have any original documents tied up in the company? If not, then it is easier to negotiate your release.

Check if your company has a legal department and if they face a huge turnover in employees. This can influence their decision to go after you. Most companies won't chase a fresher as it is expensive (legally), not worth the effort (as you're a fresher), and since you are a woman, it could rebound on them socially. However, some make it a point to do it as a matter of principle.

If it is a core IT job, coding/programming, or testing that can be done on a laptop, check if they will let you work from Hyderabad. Most probably they won't let you do this as you're a fresher. However, by offering it in writing, you show that you are trying to resolve the issue to the best of your ability.

If your company does not give you leave for your health issues, and if the problems are related to feminine fertility issues which are not treatable in Chennai, you can raise that as a claim for early relief.

A Word of Advice:

1. In your dealings with HR, be polite (there is no point in making them angry).

2. Get everything in writing (emails).

Regards,
Gokul