Employee Absconds During Notice Period: Can We Terminate or Take Disciplinary Action?

If an employee resigns and the resignation is approved by the manager, he/she has to serve the notice period of 30 days. During this notice period, if an employee absconds, can we terminate him? Can we proceed with disciplinary action? What are the next steps needed to be taken in this regard? Please advise.

Dear Raga Priyanka,

The acceptance of resignation, as you stated, is subject to the employee's fulfillment of the notice conditions on exit. If he absconds, you can hold his salary equivalent to his notice period or ask him to pay the amount, or rescind the acceptance of his resignation and initiate formal disciplinary action against him for the misconduct of unauthorized absence and terminate his services.

Dear Raga Priyanka,

The employee is absconding after resignation without serving the notice period. You can issue a letter informing him that his wages and other receivables are on hold for not serving the notice period, and in his absence, it will be treated as absconding if not reported. If he still absconds, you can forfeit all his receivables unless he submits his clearance, and you can change the 'resignation' to termination of service.