Is It Fair for My Employer to Hold My Certificates and Demand a Cheque? Need Advice!

Hi,

My employer has been holding onto my original certificates since I joined the company. I am currently planning to apply for further studies, and I need my originals for the application process. I have requested them for the certificates, but they are unwilling to provide them. In order to obtain them, they are asking me to deposit a non-dated cheque. They seem to believe that I may abscond.

Is it mandatory to deposit a cheque? Please assist me with your valuable suggestions.

Thanks.

Holding your original degree is wrong and an offense literally. Asking for a cheque is equally poor HR practice. But resisting this demand may result in you losing the job. So even if the law is on your side, practical handling of the situation is necessary.

Thank you for your response. Please suggest how to handle this practically.

Give them a written request for the return of original certificates. You can even show them your higher study application forms.

Are they asking you for a blank cheque?

Yes, they asked me to give them a signed cheque for 1 lakh rupees without a date.

Dear Kumar,

I do not recommend giving a cheque without any date, but it depends on your conditions there. Do you handle cash transactions, purchases, invoicing, etc.? If everything is clear from your end, state the same to Management, collect the originals, and leave for your higher studies.

Dear Friend,

Whatever the employer is doing is immoral and illegal. If under pressure you are forced to give a blank cheque, make it account payee and give it. Instruct the bank not to honor it; this is within your right. Please be careful in case you have to sign any document given to you by your employer. Sign it after reading and understanding it properly. Please do not succumb to any bully or pressure.

Warm Regards,
Bharat Gera
HR Consultant
9322404765