Can My Company Demand Money for On-Site Work Without a Signed Bond?

I was sent on-site for a period of 3 weeks, not for training but work, without signing a bond. It's just mentioned in the policy document that if an employee goes on-site and upon coming back doesn't serve the company for a year, on those grounds, can the company hound the employee? The reimbursement amount would cost almost 5 months' salary (3.25 lacs). I have not signed any other document apart from the offer letter.

Documents applicable to your employment:

The following documents, as amended from time to time, form part of your contract of employment with XX and are available for perusal from your business unit.

1. Human resource manual
2. Code of ethics
3. Any other document of which you may have been advised during your employment with XX

Am I still liable to a bond? Can the company extort money from me? In fact, during travel, the company has not provided me any daily allowance or reimbursed dinner bills for travel days just because I landed past 2 pm. This issue isn't mentioned in the policy, though.

No, I forgot to mention that I'm currently on notice period and will be serving it in full. The question is about money, as I have resigned before completing a year after coming back from an onsite trip.

Hi Adiety,

As you have not signed any agreement/contract/appointment letter, no one can ask you for any claims and damages. No need to worry. If you receive any threats from anyone, file a police complaint. Until you have entered into a written agreement, no one can harm you. If you need any legal assistance in this case, feel free to reach me at the number provided below.

Adding to the above comments: You also do not need to serve any notice period. If you are doing so, it is as a goodwill gesture to the other party.

Also, I found the comments of Prashant B. Ingawale to be confusing: "You want to leave the company now without paying any notice period amount, and you want to find an escape way now from us, correct?" Is this written about your company, Mr. Ingawale? The statement is of a questionable nature where the person is verifying whether the victim is trying to find an escape from "us."

@harpreetwalia, thank you for your prompt response. Did you read my 2nd pata, offer letter is the only thing that I have signed & it has the below section:

Documents applicable to your employment:
The following documents, as amended from time to time, form part of your contract of employment with xx and are available for perusal from your business unit:
1. Human resource manual
2. Code of ethics
3. Any other document of which you may have been advised during your employment with xx.

Don't worry. Acceptance of an offer is not an agreement. It further needs to be supported by an appointment letter.

I'm concerned about the possibility of receiving a negative review or not receiving my experience or relieving letter 45 days after my last day. I raised this issue with my onsite lead, who acknowledged that I was absent on certain holidays. However, my Managing Director is unwilling to listen; it feels like a one-man show.

Additionally, they did not compensate me for travel expenses on the day of departure. When I inquired about this, they explained that since I arrived after 2 pm (with a flight scheduled at 4:30 am), I was not eligible for reimbursement. Furthermore, my request for dinner bill reimbursement was also turned down.

Sir, the offer letter was the only document given to me by my current company upon joining; there wasn't any appointment letter provided.

Sir, they have now sent me a notice (it's on the company's letterhead), asking me to reimburse the amount and return it to the company and complete the notice period of 3 months. They are threatening to file a complaint with the third party who was hired by the new company to conduct my background check. According to the notice they sent me on 19th January 2018, they claim that the background check was completed on 12th December 2017.

Kindly note that when I resigned on 30th October, they approved 12th January as my last day. In November, I discussed with my delivery manager that I wouldn't be able to pay the amount as it is substantial. Previously, others had left but were not asked to repay any money.

Then, on 10th January 2018, they started demanding payment via email from the head of finance, threatening that I won't be released unless I transfer the specified amount immediately. Please note that all the amounts are in rand, indicating that these people have not made the payments. I reiterated that I couldn't pay and they had previously requested me to withdraw my resignation.

On 12th January 2018, the head of finance, delivery manager, and HR were present. I sent a farewell email to everyone, and my farewell was conducted smoothly with the delivery manager in attendance. My exit interview was also completed. However, suddenly on 19th January 2018, I received a notice on the company's letterhead stating that they would take strict action against me, asking me to return to work and informing the agency that conducted my background check for the new company that I didn't complete the notice period or pay the dues.

Please help, as my career is at stake.

The company has no real grounds to demand money from you. You were sent on company work, and you completed that and returned. An employee cannot be stopped from leaving after giving notice just because the company sent him/her abroad for work. From the facts you have mentioned, the company is not on sound legal footing when they threaten you with legal action, trying to contact verification agencies, etc. These acts will show the company is harassing and not handling things legally. Do not get worried but seek the counsel of a good lawyer to whom you can show all the papers, documents, etc., and frame a reply.