Is It Legal for My Company to Cut My Salary After I Worked Remotely Without Permission?

Hi All, I work at XXX BPO. Due to COVID-19, the company implemented a policy for Work From Home, stating that employees must inform the company before moving to their hometown or any other location. Despite my leave request being rejected, I attended a wedding in my hometown without informing the company, but I logged in online from there.

As a disciplinary action, the company has decided to revoke the increment I received in April 2021.

Could you please advise if it is legal for the company to revoke my increased salary and revert me back to last year's salary?

Disciplinary Proceedings in Private Management Companies

A private management company can very well hold disciplinary proceedings against its employees and enforce punitive measures if required. However, in a public limited company, there are procedures in place.

As I presume you are working in a private management company, your management is fully empowered to take any disciplinary action against you for "willful disobedience," and you are not supposed to challenge it.

Importance of Adhering to HR Policies

Since you are aware that your management had promulgated an HR policy stating that no employee can visit their hometown or other places without prior intimation, why did you defy such instructions and proceed to your hometown without informing the company? Your actions were viewed seriously by the management.

Management's Disciplinary Action and Increment Revocation

Without prejudice to the right of the management to take disciplinary action against the poster and notwithstanding whether the poster is a workman or not, the management's decision to revoke the increment already sanctioned raises questions about the proportionality of the punishment to the alleged misconduct. The poster did not mention whether the punishment was given immediately or after providing an opportunity to explain their position.

Employers can take disciplinary action against you since you didn't follow the laid-down norms/guidelines. However, you still have the right to appeal as per your company's policy.