How Can I Ensure My Resignation Is Accepted on Time to Avoid Losing My New Job Opportunity?

Hello, I need to submit my resignation letter to my employer as I have been offered a job elsewhere. Since November 2020, we have stopped receiving a salary at my current employment. Our college had a provision for providing leave without pay, "lein," in such cases to join another college, but after a long legal battle, we lost the case. Now, we want to submit a resignation. However, the management is known for delaying acceptance of the resignation until the joining date of the new job has passed. In the past, they have done that with other employees and left people jobless. I have already deferred my joining at the new college due to the legal battle, so I cannot afford to delay it more than 3 months now.

Now the only option for me is to submit my resignation, but I am scared. I am ready to serve the notice period or pay 3 months' salary, but what should I do to make sure that the college acknowledges the resignation?

No employer can compel an unwilling employee to remain in their service according to their convenience. An employee can resign from their job at their own will for any reason, subject to the rules of exit that form part of the employment contract between them. Of course, the employer has an inherent right to modify the terms of notice on genuine grounds of work exigencies and postpone the relief for a specified time, but cannot delay indefinitely in responding to the offer of resignation. The purpose of notice in the unilateral exit clause of the employment contract is to enable the other party to make suitable alternative arrangements within the notice period.

If the allegations against the particular college management, as described in the post, are true, they are certainly employing cheap and unethical methods to frustrate the exercise of an employee's legal rights. It is not feasible for others to suggest similar countermeasures, and the poster must rely on their native intelligence with tact and persuasion to the extent possible.

Therefore, the poster should first submit their resignation with an effective future date, providing sufficient notice as mentioned in their appointment orders and ensuring proof of submission, such as sending it by registered post. Subsequently, it is advisable to make a personal representation to the Principal or Chairperson of the college to arrange for their relief as requested in the resignation letter. Before the notice period expires, they should ensure that they have cleared all dues to the college, whether monetary or in terms of borrowed assets like books or laptops from the library. If they suspect any foul play, issuing a legal notice to the management before the effective date of resignation is crucial. In the case of resigning for a new job, they should inform the prospective employer about the challenges in obtaining relief from the current job and seek their concurrence in advance.