Facing Employer Blackmail Over Unpaid Salary and Bond: How Should I Handle Legal Threats?

I have worked for almost one year in a small software company as a Software Engineer. At the time of joining, they asked for 20,000 INR for security purposes. Without considering the future, I paid, and they did not provide any receipt or call letters. After joining, they did not pay me even a single rupee for six months. They tortured me a lot when I asked about the salary. After six months, they started paying me 3,000 per month. I questioned them, "Why are you not giving the full salary?" They simply replied, "If you want to work here, work; otherwise, leave." I worked there just to satisfy my parents. Once they asked me to sign a bond, promising my salary would increase the following month. So, I kept some hope and signed it. The next month, at salary time, they only gave 5,000. I told them I didn't need this and wanted to resign. They blackmailed me about the bond. After some months, I quit the job without informing the employer. Till now, they haven't provided me with the call letters, not even an offer email. They called me many times, but I was scared and didn't answer for a month. Now, they messaged me that if I don't report to the office and submit the project, they will take legal action against me. However, if I go there, they will likely mentally harass me. Can you please provide a solution, sir? What should I do if they take legal action against me regarding the bond? Also, the bond paper is not a legally binding document; it's just a green paper.

Dear Colleague, After suffering mental torture and monetary losses for one year in the company whose actions are questionable, you are approaching this forum rather late. This company does not seem to have business/projects to sustain, and the future is bleak, which is why they are adopting such dubious means. No wonder if it folds down soon.

Mistakes Made

But you also made glaring mistakes:

- Joining without an appointment letter and knowing salary/benefits
- No background check about the company's standing in the business, projects on hand, and financial status
- Paying Rs 20,000/- without any documents
- Signing a bond
- Absconding from one fine day

Suggested Actions

At this stage, I can only suggest approaching the local Labour Commissioners' office with a well-drafted written complaint by some expert, putting the entire sequence of events and wrongdoings by the company. When joining a new company, take care to know fully well about it, have documents in hand, and make sure that you are not joining any fly-by-night company.

Regards, Vinayak Nagarkar HR Consultant

Dear friend,

I am in complete agreement with the suggestion of Mr. Vinayak. One should not be so gullible in life, particularly in the matter of employment. Your complaint to the Labour Department would certainly deter the ex-employer from precipitating the issue further. Also, submit a petition to the State Chief Minister's Special Cell so that there would be directions to the District Collector concerned.

Hi,

As suggested by learned friends in the earlier columns, see that you are a more mature and learned employee. Take the above-said advice and move along with your life without giving too much importance to this one issue. Take it up as it comes, as you too know that you made several blunders but nothing life-threatening. So why stress yourself too much? Make sure to lodge the complaint to preempt the issues that might arise and move along with your normal life.

Thanks and Regards