Employee Not Returning Client's Laptop After Termination: How Should We Proceed Legally?

One of our employees was terminated by our client for a performance issue. Now the employee is not responding to phone calls and messages. He is holding the client's laptop. What steps do we need to take for legal action to recover the assets and finalize the settlement? We request advice.

Different Aspects to Consider

There are 2-3 different aspects of this.

First, you would probably be more concerned about the laptop because it is of the client.

1. Do you have a backup of the data?
2. Do you have any confidential data that can be misused?
3. Do you have a mechanism to remotely disable the laptop so it can no longer be used?
4. How expensive is the laptop, and can you, as a contractor, replace it at your cost?
5. Do you have amounts pending settlement that you can leverage against the laptop?

Depending on the above, you need to decide on the action, including going to the police and filing a FIR, and taking their help to go to his house and recover the laptop. Do remember that you need to spend money for it; they don't do things for free.

How can "your employee" be terminated by your "client"? The client should have surrendered the employee back to you in anticipation of a suitable replacement. Therefore, call back the employee to work immediately and then sort out the laptop issue.