Facing a Relieving Letter Delay: How Can I Join My New Job on Time?

Hi all, I was about to be terminated by my company. However, considering my experience, they agreed to a smooth exit. I submitted my resignation on the same day and handed over all duties and responsibilities. However, HR informed me that they cannot provide a resignation acceptance letter as it is a case of being asked to leave. They mentioned that they can issue a relieving letter after 30-45 days. The challenge is that I have a job offer where I need to join within 30 days. Could you please suggest how I can proceed to join the other company or how I can obtain the required letter from HR?

Note: I received the offer before this incident occurred.

Dear Anamika,

Please explain why you were about to be "Terminated" but considering your experience, your employer agreed for a smooth exit? You submitted your resignation, which has been acknowledged by your employer. Why has your relieving letter been held up, despite handing over charge? The reasons must be known to you only. You can report for duty with your employer, informing him that you have not yet received the relieving letter.

Hi Srikanth,

I have written my resignation on paper and submitted it. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy. I am following up with ER, and he is telling me it will take 45 days to issue the relieving letter. However, he is not giving me my resignation acceptance letter. I also came to know that my resignation has been accepted by the department head. Kindly suggest, is ER intentionally doing this, or is this the procedure to follow as per policies?

The employer has not terminated you and has asked you to resign. Hence, you cannot force them to do what you want, or else they will simply terminate you. Therefore, as mentioned earlier, the only option available to you is to get things sorted out amicably across the table. A termination letter will have a significant impact on your career, so do not provoke them to issue it.

You may contact your new company and request additional time for the submission of your relieving letter. Typically, many companies offer a grace period for the submission of such documents. Additionally, during this time, they may conduct a reference check with your previous employer.

If you have submitted a resignation, you should insist on an acceptance letter or any kind of communication indicating that you have left the company. Anyway, get the matter sorted out before joining the new company. This is essential.

If an employer asks an employee to resign, it is their duty to ensure that all related activities are completed simultaneously. This exit is what the employer wanted, and the employee obliged by not contesting the issue due to long-term career considerations.

The role of HR in resignation processes

If an HR representative states that the relieving letter (RL) will take 45 days, they are either misinformed or not competent. Providing an acceptance letter is a crucial part of the resignation process, indicating a lack of understanding by the HR. The acceptance letter finalizes the resignation and prevents its withdrawal.

Steps to address resignation issues with HR

Prepare a resignation withdrawal letter and meet with HR. Request either the RL or acceptance immediately, or state that you will withdraw your resignation and seek rejoining. Firmly but politely ask for the letter as a matter of right since the HR seems to lack the human touch nowadays and only follow rules.

Thank you.

Do you have any documentary evidence to prove that you have resigned? If not, then send the resignation by registered post. Also, first request the employer to issue a relieving letter and an experience letter to you. The second time, threaten him that you will take the matter to the labor commissioner if he doesn't issue the same.

It was a forced resignation and not a normal resignation. In this situation, if the employee is forced to provide a relieving letter or submit a resignation withdrawal letter, the employer will immediately send a termination letter, which will adversely affect the employee. Please review the query: the employee was on the verge of being terminated by the employer but was asked/forced to resign in order to avoid tarnishing the employee's career. As forum members, we have only heard one side of the story. Please do not take offense.

Hi Saji,

Kindly let me know what the alternate ways are to join a new company. I have only 30 days to join, and I do not want to force them to issue a relieving letter. However, I am curious about the reason why they are not providing an acceptance letter.

Thank you.

As I mentioned earlier in my post, the only option available to you is to tactfully convince (emotionally) to give the relieving letter at the earliest possible. This way, you can join the company on the specified date.

Alternatively, you can also try to speak/convince your future company's HR/HOD that you can provide the relieving letter after 15 days of joining. This could be due to the concerned authority being on leave or out of town, etc.

Hi all,

I have received my resignation acceptance letter and I have joined CTS. However, during the background verification process, it was flagged as insufficient because my previous employer marked it as a forced resignation. I am concerned about losing my job now. Could you kindly suggest how I can save my job?

Thank you.

Handling Career Transition with Past and Present Employers

It was expected that if you had convinced your ex-employer beforehand not to spoil your career, this situation would not have arisen. The only option is to try to handle the situation with your present as well as past employer in an amicable way. You can request your past employer to provide feedback in a manner that will not harm your career. Additionally, you can explain the circumstances of your past employment to your current employer, detailing that you were compelled to resign, ensuring a similar situation does not occur in your present employment in the future.

Lastly, this is my view. I will wait for seniors to comment.