Resigned and Ready to Return Office Gadgets: Can HR Still Take Legal Action?

I have resigned from my organization, and the terms were not good with me at the end. So, I informed everyone the same and left the office. I have been relieved by my immediate reporting manager but not HR. I am carrying the gadgets with me now, and I have said I am ready to return them to the office. HR is threatening me, saying that legal action would be taken against me for absconding because I am carrying office property. Can they take action even when I am ready to return the gadgets?

Just return the items to the company and take a receipt.

What were the terms and conditions of your job as per the offer letter/appointment order? Seek formal release by quoting immediate manager's approval for the exit.

Dear Frustrated:

NEVER, I repeat, NEVER speak ill of your employer - past or present. Was your resignation written, or did you simply 'walk out' of the company without informing anyone about it? Keeping office property, gadgets as you label them, HAS TO BE RETURNED the day the 'departure' is made official. Return them IMMEDIATELY if you have not done so. HR's threatening, unfortunately, is appropriate.

Regards,

Arif ur Rehman

Yes, your past employer is at liberty to lodge an FIR for stealing the company property. Did the company issue you any relieving letter? If not, then return the gadget, collect the receipt, and release letter.

Ensure there is a single line break between paragraphs.

Hi there,

You should have approached HR before being relieved, informing everyone (as per your post) and obtaining approval from your reporting manager. You should have obtained a clearance then itself; at the very least, submitting company records should have been the last thing you did.

Immediate action is required to go and return office equipment; explain and persuade HR for the delayed submission.

Thank you.

Don't worry, just send an email or call them to inform when you will return the gadgets (either in a day or two). Alternatively, go directly to the office by tomorrow and return the gadgets, making sure to obtain a receipt via email. Even if they issue an absconding letter and you return the gadgets, there should not be any issue. However, failing to return the gadgets could lead to legal action against you, which would pose a significant problem both personally and professionally.

Dear colleague,

It is not clear what prompts you to hold on to the property in the first place when you have been relieved from service by your boss and also when you intend to return the property. Why are you providing a reason for the company to take action regarding the property in your possession that you plan to return? Please do so promptly and resolve this matter.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultant