Absconded because no one was ready to accept my resignation

I am in need of an experience and relieving letter from my previous organization (BPO) where I have 5 years of experience. I was a work leader and stood up for my team members when they were under legal action due to alleged incorrect production practices and were suspended pending investigation.

I had confidence in my team members as good employees, and eventually, they were reinstated after the investigation. However, during this time, I decided to resign, but my resignation was not accepted by the operations manager or HR. I repeatedly informed my managers that our team members were not at fault and advised against accepting the escalation, but unfortunately, it was accepted, leading to blame being placed on us. Feeling unsupported, I chose to resign from the company as I was not under investigation myself.

Despite sending emails to my reporting manager and HR, no action was taken, and instead, a PeopleSoft Apps notice period was initiated with my Last Working Day set for 17/10/2013. I continued to serve until 04/10/2014 but eventually absconded as my resignation was not being acknowledged by anyone despite my attempts to communicate with HR, the reporting manager, and the Operations Manager. It was a challenging decision for me to walk away after dedicating 5 years to my career, especially in the BPO industry.

I did receive my PF, Pension, and the completion amount for the 5 years. However, on my relieving letter, it will state that I absconded. After struggling for 3 years post-MCA from 2005-2008 due to the recession, I finally secured my first job in December 2008, where I worked diligently and honestly. I have nothing tangible to show for my efforts and have been labeled as "ABSCONDED."

Now, at 35 years old, I feel hesitant about pursuing a job or getting married. If anyone can guide me on how to obtain those documents, it would be greatly appreciated.

Handling Abscondment and Relieving Letters

When you have absconded, you cannot force the company to give you a clean relieving letter. Even if you were able to get a clean letter, during a background check, they will definitely say you absconded. So you have no option but to work with that letter.

You will have to work with smaller companies or at lower pay by convincing your new company's HR team that it was not your fault. Why would you abscond without a job after 5 years? Someone will probably be willing to give you another chance.

It is sad to hear about your plight, especially when you have fought for your team members and been exonerated from the charges against them. There is one essential issue against you—the fact that you walked out on your employer without having created proper documentation that could have protected you from the situation that has arisen now.

Given the circumstances, you do not have the relieving letter from the employer, which is essential as your prospective employer would expect it from you.

Recommendations

- Put together the sequence of communications that you had with your employer after you communicated that you wanted to leave them.

- Write to them again, quoting the sequence of events leading to your departure, and request once again for your letter.

- If you are in the same town, please visit and meet a senior official who may be able to help you.

- You may also share it frankly with your next employer that you left your previous job early as they were unwilling to discuss your relieving with you, and you were losing job opportunities. Being honest and candid helps.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

I'm not really into your story, but I'm very much interested in the challenge that has been thrown across to the members.

In the current scenario, tact is your best friend and safest option. Use diplomacy and tact to get your work done. Only opt for legal recourse when everything else fails.

The company cannot term you as absconding because you have partially served your notice period. In the appointment letter, it would have been clearly stated that either party can terminate this contract by serving a one-month notice period.

As per the terms of the contract, you have served (partially) your notice period, so technically, you are not in violation of the terms of your contract. Also, as the company has not replied negatively to your notice/letter of termination, it can be safely assumed that there was deemed acceptance by the company of the termination letter issued by you.

Therefore, they cannot change their earlier stand of deemed acceptance of the termination letter and change it into absconding just to settle their thirst for vengeance.

If things don't work out, send them a legal notice and make the HR Manager, Ops Head, the Company, the Director, and the CEO a party.

Regards,
Octavious

Speak to your previous employers and sort it out amicably. If there's anything to do with a payment or notice period shortfalls, kindly address it and close the case. First, understand your offer letter and company policy before you consider seeking advice from a legal team. This should be your last resort, provided that each scenario and communication is properly documented. Documentation is key here.

You should first convince them to rewrite the letter as either 'resigned' or 'voluntarily abandoned' from service instead of 'absconding.' If they are not convinced, then you can fight a legal battle. From your text, it seems that they have not made any correspondences for recalling you to resume duties when you were purportedly absconding.