Will I receive gratuity - planning to abscond from the service with my current company

I am working as a Senior Executive. I have completed five years in my current role, and now I am planning to switch jobs. Despite receiving many good offers, the two-month notice period required by my current company is deterring potential employers. As a result, I am considering absconding from my current position. My concern is whether I will still receive the gratuity that I am already eligible for, or if my company may try to withhold it.

Dear Believer1,

Abandonment of employment has ramifications beyond the payment of gratuity as well. After serving for five years, it is advisable to obtain an unblemished service-cum-employment certificate. If you abandon your employment, your company may be compelled to terminate your services. What if the company states the actual reason for your separation in the service-cum-employment certificate? Such a certificate could create difficulties in securing future jobs.

The middle ground is to submit your resignation and have a smooth exit. Simultaneously, begin searching for a new job. A situation may arise where you might be without a job for a few weeks or even months. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. You can provide some explanation for the gap in employment. Although this approach also carries risks, it is less risky compared to your initial plan.

Please be aware that in the future, when applying for positions like VP or Director, you may be required to provide employment details for all previous jobs. In this context, if your current company confirms that you abandoned your services, your candidacy could be rejected. Therefore, do not compromise between short-term and long-term gains.

All the best!

Dinesh Divekar

Dear friend,

Of course, you will get your gratuity despite the likely fact that your present employer can dismiss you for your abscondence. However, that would be a black mark affecting your career and employability in the future. Trustworthiness is an important trait expected of a managerial cadre employee. Abandonment of services for the sake of evading the notice period service cannot be a desirable option by any stretch of the imagination. That's why more reliance is placed on BGV whenever a new employee is selected for service. Two months is not too long a notice period considering the position held by you now. You can negotiate with the prospective employer for sufficient joining time in case you would likely be compelled to serve the entire notice period of two months or try to convince the present employer to accept a buyout offer from your side.

Dear colleague,

After putting in five years of service as an executive, it is an irresponsible act of thinking to quit by absconding. It will badly reflect on the person and will be weighed against him by future employers. You should genuinely think of a smooth separation by buying the notice period if that condition is mentioned in your appointment letter. If you are in a tearing hurry to quit immediately, or else serve the required notice and leave in good taste.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR and Employee Relations Consultant

You are eligible to get gratuity since completing five years of service. It would be prudent on your part to take a graceful exit for a better future. You can negotiate for a buyout option for the notice period or serve the notice period rather than absconding.

Your planning to abscond from the service may land you in no man's land as well as entangle you with legal complications, i.e. (Service can be dismissed, and gratuity can be suspended as per the provisions of the Act for the dismissed person, the BGV can be failed, and other consequential disadvantages).

Now you can decide what would be better. Always remember this: "Short cut may cut short life."