Can We Require Employees to Stay After Maternity Leave to Prevent Immediate Resignations?

We have faced a problem where an employee resigned immediately after returning from maternity leave.

Can we include in our policy a requirement that the employee must serve a minimum duration in the company after returning from maternity leave, otherwise, she will be liable to compensate for the remaining period from her basic pay?

Hi Aarti,

I assume you must have a notice period policy where an employee has to serve a notice period while resigning. If not, then implement it. Many companies have a policy for the payment of the notice period by either party. Making or changing the policy is entirely up to your company's decision.

Thank you.

No, it would be against the law to require a female employee to remain in your service solely because she has already received benefits, even if those benefits are available to her as accrued. Any accrued amount should be paid to the beneficiary, and once paid, that amount cannot be recovered.