Should I Accept a Resignation Due to Medical Issues Despite a Service Agreement?

If an employee resigns from the job due to her medical condition, which does not allow her to work the night shift, my query is, should I accept her resignation and provide experience and relieving letters? Kindly suggest on this.

P.S: The employee has signed a 1-year service agreement and is required to serve a 2-month notice period.

It is good to accept and give her the reprieve and also settle her accounts if you feel the matter is genuine. It is only humane to consider such cases, and there need not be any rule if it is in the interests of the employee. Moreover, the night shift is not an easy work schedule, especially for women. Medical issues are bound to arise due to biological changes in the body, and even many men are getting affected by it.

You may ask her to hand over during the day shift [if that is required and viable] so that the transition is smooth, and the person taking over has no issues to start on his/her own.

Thanks and Regards

Thank you for your response. The employee has submitted medical documents and resigned for the same issue but is pressuring us to accept the resignation so that she can pursue her M.Sc as a regular course.

Management's Role in Accepting Resignations on Humanitarian Grounds

It is up to the management to accept a resignation on humanitarian grounds when medical evidence is submitted. However, management has the option to be strict and ask the employee to buy out the two-month notice period. This may appear as willful harassment to other employees. On balance, if the employee has submitted an acceptable medical document, management should take a lenient view and release the employee. However, if there are pending assignments or work with that employee, management may ask the employee to finish the tasks as soon as possible or transfer them to another employee with full details.

The Importance of a Healthy Working Atmosphere

Being consistently harsh is not in favor of the employer unless there is a breach of the code of conduct. A healthy working atmosphere can be generated through coordination between employees and employers; otherwise, it would generate chaos and affect the ambiance of the workplace.