Employee Left Without Notice: Is He Still Entitled to Gratuity? Seeking Quick Advice

If the employee has left the company without giving any prior notice, will he be liable for the gratuity amount? Please respond promptly.

Eligibility for Gratuity Payment

Yes. Provided your company is covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, and if the former employee has completed 5 years of continuous service in your organization, then he is eligible.

Employee Abscondence and Gratuity Implications

Any employee leaving the organization on their own and without any intimation in this regard tantamounts to abscondence, which is misconduct warranting formal disciplinary action, possibly resulting in their dismissal. Therefore, until such time they continue to be in the service of the organization, it implies that statutory gratuity would become payable only after formal termination of employment takes place, subject to the conditions of the applicability of the PGAct to the establishment and the employee's completion of the minimum qualifying service on the date of formal termination.