Notice Period Dilemma: What Happens If I Take Leave Against Company Policy?

I would like to know what could possibly happen if I take 3/4 days of leave during my notice period. The company policy states that only sick leave is allowed during this time. What would happen if I forcefully take that leave and then join the company to complete the remaining time?

Exit in peace and with a good relationship with your old employer. Never burn your bridges in this fashion.

[Eight things to do during your notice period - Page 2 - timesofindia-economictimes](http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-06-02/news/50272851_1_notice-period-boss-transfer/2)

If your HR policy does not permit, there is not much that can be done.

The policy of not taking leaves while on notice period is enforced so that the knowledge and the process transfer is done in an organized manner and in full. What is the need to forcefully take that leave of 3 to 4 days? Exit in a decent way. It's not necessary that you always take the bull by its horn.

Regards,
Ashutosh Thakre

Thank you for the response. I understand the point, but the reason for taking leave is twofold: first, there are no pending tasks from my end, and second, there is no outstanding knowledge transfer required to be completed. I am also willing to extend my availability if necessary. I am just curious about the potential worst-case scenario.

The worst part is that you are declared absconding and you have damaged the relationship within this organization. You may not want to rejoin them, but the world is small, and you may encounter some of them in the future, where a negative opinion has already been formed. So, why the rush to go on that trip afterwards?

Regards, Ashutosh Thakre

@ASHUTOSH THAKRE, agreed. I am trying my best not to harm the relationship, as you rightly said, the world is small. I am trying to be aware of what could possibly go against me by gathering information from you people. When you say "declared absconding," is that a legal term?

Dear Ont,

If your company policy clearly states that leaves are not allowed, and you still forcefully take them as the company is not going to sanction them, they are unauthorized. The company can send you a mail stating that you are absconding from the company and have decided to self-terminate your service with the company. This action would be legally declared as absconding.

Regards,
Ashutosh Thakre

Advice for a Graceful Exit

Seniors in the profession and people with extensive experience have advised, in an unbiased manner, the right thing to do at the end of your tenure in a company. Leave with grace and good feelings. There can be no better exit than this, and it also leaves you with the possibility that somewhere ahead in your career, you can always look for a position in this company again. Absconding is a legal term, so avoid having such terms attached to you. Members here spend valuable time giving advice; it would be ideal if hypothetical questions are avoided.

@ASHUTOSH THAKRE, agreed. I am trying my best not to harm the relationship, as you rightly said, the world is small. I am trying to be aware of what could possibly go against me by gathering information from you people. When you say "declared absconding," is that a legal term?

The notice period is meant to prepare the employer to make arrangements to handle your portfolio after you leave the company. This is done either by new recruitment or by making arrangements for a substitute through adjustments from within other departments. The notice period does not give you free will to be absent suddenly just to disrupt work and cause loss to the organization. The employer's policy to grant sick leave is a humanitarian gesture.

So, be sincere with your employer until the date you work with them. Spoiling relations in such a case, if you proceed on forced leave, may harm only your interests as the employer can provide adverse comments/observations about your attitude to other employers when it comes to the opportunity of background verification of the employee in a new organization.