Forced to Resign Over Customer Feedback: How Can I Fight Back Legally?

I was working with an MNC for the last 5+ years. My performance has been satisfactory. There is not a single complaint regarding my work, behavior, punctuality, etc. I have been working with utmost sincerity and honesty. One fine day, they called me and asked me to resign, saying they have negative feedback from customers. If I do not resign, they will terminate my services. They had a relieving letter ready and asked me to sign it. Under pressure, I signed it.

Please advise legally on how I can reclaim my honor and compensation. I have been jobless since then and facing a financial crisis. If I approach the court, how long will it take to solve this case? I have a contract, offer letter, and relieving letters (photocopy) with me.

What has happened with you is unfortunate. Nevertheless, we need a little more information. The questions are as below:

a) What is your designation? How many people report to you? We need this information to assess whether you fall within the purview of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

b) Did your company conduct any inquiry? If yes, then please enumerate the procedure.

c) How were your relations with your Manager? Has your manager changed recently, or is there any change at the top level?

d) Lately, a lot of retrenchment is happening in IT companies due to robotics, automation, etc. Did your company get affected because of these technological changes?

e) Did you have a difference of opinion or disagreement with someone from the client side? Did you unintentionally press someone's wrong nerve?

f) You have completed more than five years in the current company. Therefore, you are eligible for gratuity. Has your company paid the gratuity and other terminal benefits?

Final Comments

It would be too early to say whether it is an appropriate approach for the labor court. Litigation is fine, but court cases in India drag on for years. You could get exhausted making rounds to the labor court, and even if you win a case, the spirit of victory may be lost by then. Secondly, you could be applying for new jobs. Please note that no HR would like to hire a job candidate who is in a court case against their ex-employer.

In the meantime, you may find out where the Labor Office of your area is located. Just visit and find out the visiting hours, procedure for filing a complaint, etc.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Response to Mr. Dinesh Divekar

Please find my reply point by point:

a) I was the Assistant Manager (Sales), and three engineers reported to me.

b) There was no inquiry, no warning letter, and no verbal warning. It was a sudden decision.

c) My relations were good, and there was no change in his behavior.

d) There was no adverse effect on the company or employees due to automation, as it is not an IT company.

e) We handle customers, not just a single client. I still maintain excellent relations with customers, and there are no complaints about me.

f) There has been no mention of terminal benefits or gratuity, although I am eligible for it.

Please advise if I can claim compensation (via court or Lok Adalat) for my monetary loss due to sudden unemployment and the injustice done to me. Also, I understand that labor laws and courts may not be useful to me. Please suggest alternatives.

Regards

If the company has given you the relieving letter, then this solves your problem, at least to the extent of searching for a new job. Your company has put up that hurdle; this, in itself, is a positive feature.

Understanding the Termination

What I could not understand is why your company terminated you. Have you spoken with your manager? Why was your manager a silent spectator when everything was going on? Terminations of this kind do not happen unless the manager is taken into confidence. If you were an Assistant Sales Manager, then what was your performance? Could you meet the sales target? If there was a shortfall, then by what percentage? Did you fail to manage the performance of any of the Sales Engineers? Did any of the Sales Engineers commit a grave mistake, and was it attributed to your poor supervision?

Investigating the Reasons

What was the logic behind your termination if there was no complaint from your manager or customer? Someone must have double-crossed you. Try to find out what happened so that someone has gone to the extent of ensuring that your services are terminated. Have layoffs started in your company, and are you the first one to come on the chopping block?

Seeking Legal Assistance

Lastly, as I have stated in my previous post, approach the Labour Officer of your area and explain your problem. Let us see whether he shows willingness to intervene. Possibly, his interventions could come with some "price," and you should be ready to pay that "price." I hope you do not take a moral stand to fob off his overtures in this aspect.

You may call me on my mobile if you wish to.

Thanks,

Regards, Dinesh Divekar