Facing HR Harassment and Salary Delays: How Can I File a Complaint with the Labor Office?

Dear Team, I am working as a Senior Executive in a private firm in Kerala for the past 2 years, primarily focusing on Operations.

Issue with HR Department

I would like to bring to your attention that our company's HR department has been engaging in mental harassment of several of my colleagues for an extended period, and recently, this behavior has escalated to include myself.

Salary Withholding and Delayed Settlements

To provide more clarity on the situation, the HR department has a tendency to temporarily withhold (freeze) employees' salaries. Furthermore, in the event an employee decides to leave the company, HR delays settling their Full and Final (F&F) dues promptly, often making them wait for 1-2 months. Additionally, there is a bias towards female staff members within our company. Despite raising this issue with the management, no action has been taken.

While I have had disagreements with HR on work-related matters in the past, my salary has never been withheld until now.

Seeking Assistance for Lodging a Complaint

In order to address this ongoing concern, I seek your assistance in understanding the process for lodging a complaint against the HR department with government officials. Should I approach the Labor Office for this matter?

Furthermore, could you please advise on whether I can escalate this issue to the Labor Office, the grounds on which I can do so, and the key points that should be included in the complaint letter?

Thank you for your support.

Best regards

You can't complain about a single person to a Labour Officer. The Labour Office will accept the complaint if it is against the organization (employer).

Please check the policy of the company and find out whether HR is violating the salary and settlement policy of the organization. The management will only accept or take action against any person if he/she violates the company policy or procedures. If you find that the management is still backing HR, then the issue is only with the management and not HR. In that case, you can proceed with your complaint against the management in the Labour Office.

Dear Saravanan,

I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Yes, I agree with your point that I need to raise a complaint against the management as an individual role may not be considered. Do you suggest that I should approach a legal advisor (Labor Laws) or directly approach the Labor Officer?

Your statements are too general. If a company does not pay an employee's salary before the 10th of the following month, it is a violation of the Payment of Wages Act. Similarly, the Full and Final (F&F) payment has to be made to the separated employee within a certain period. Please refer to the AP Shops Act or Factories Rules for this.

If an employer violates the timeline, you have the right to complain to the labor office, narrating the case of the violation of the act or rule.