Facing Bond Payment Pressure After Resignation: How Can I Avoid Being Marked as an Absconder?

I was working with an IT MNC from 11th June 2018 after I graduated in engineering this year. I was posted in Mumbai, and I am from Odisha. On 8th August 2018, I got to know that my father was in an accident. So, I booked the next flight home and informed the manager and HR through email. After witnessing the situation back home, I decided to resign as my father's condition was not looking promising. I applied for resignation on the MNC portal and sent a written email to my manager and HR as well.

However, I had to pay a 72k bond amount to get a relieving letter from my employer. Due to my inability to pay the large sum because my father was undergoing treatment, and a substantial amount was being spent on medication and other medical needs, I emailed the necessary medical documents, bills, and a certificate signed by the doctor confirming my father's condition as bedridden to my manager and HR.

I am being threatened to be marked as an absconder if I don't pay the bond amount and will not receive any relieving letter. I have worked in the organization for 60 days before applying for resignation. Also, in Mumbai, I was not given any work as my manager mentioned that a background verification was in progress.

Please advise me on what I should do. Will this incident affect my future if I am marked as an absconder after completing my post-graduation as I have no interest in pursuing an IT job? I am feeling very down at this point as I have no one to guide me and no mental or financial support. I am on the verge of losing everything I have. Please, someone, help me. Please.

What were the terms and conditions of employment? What is this bond period? Was there any specialized training given to you? How long is the bond period? Were you on probation? What was the notice period? Anyway, be cool and calm, take legal help, and do not be perturbed by threats to make you an absconder. They may not be on a firm legal basis and are bluffing to some extent.

Probation Period and Resignation Issues

I was on a probation period for 12 months. The joining letter stated that if I left the company before 3 months, I would have to pay 72k. We were given no specialized training, just some generic training. As the situation at my home is not in good shape, I had informed HR that I can't serve the notice period. Usually, the notice period for probationary employees is 30 days. It's been more than 30 days since I applied for resignation, and I have not started working on the project. I was assigned to the project but was not given any work.

My dear young friend, there is a quote: "The ways of God are always mysterious to mortal man, but one can be happy even after many years as long as there is hope." Therefore, the need of the hour is that you should not lose your hope in a bright future. In any such critical situations beyond your control, you should not simply allow yourself to be hijacked by despair and dejection. Rather, you should hope against hope that Nature has bestowed you with the necessary resilience to regain your equanimity of mind and decide appropriately in such life situations.

I can understand that paid employment is your career option as of now. But reading in between the lines of your post, I am left with an irresistible impression that you started to dislike your present job/organization from day one. Work-life is different from student life in regard to priorities and practices. The phase of student life is that of a cradle to a baby. You know well that one cannot be a baby forever and remain in a cradle. Whether you are a fresher just out of college or an employee with considerable experience, you are bound by the rules of employment. Flouting the rules of exit will certainly affect your future employment. However, coupled with the unfortunate accident to your father compelling your presence at home, your dislike culminated in the decision to quit the job. I would be happy if I were wrong. Of course, filial devotion demands a son not to be indifferent towards a father when he is critically bedridden. Since you are a new entrant, you could have applied for a long leave instead of resigning.

Therefore, my suggestion to you would be a formal withdrawal of your resignation and applying for a leave without pay for about two or three months. It is better to send both requests by registered post to your employer.

Mr. Umakanthan,

Your post is full of wisdom. Applying for leave without pay is a good idea. However, the young man did not have the benefit of sage advice and was also preoccupied with his parents' problems, which hindered him from considering such actions.

The company should have shown more compassion in their approach, instead of threatening him with a Rs72000 bond, which they are not legally able to enforce, or at least could be challenged in a court of law.