Can a Company Withhold a Relieving Letter and Impact Your Future Career? What Can You Do?

Dear members, I worked as a manager in a company for 9 months. My involuntary resignation was processed. The company made me resign by imposing a fine of 500/-. After 2 months, the company sent my Full and Final settlement. However, my relieving letter was not sent by the company. Because of this, I had to join another company and faced trouble. I also talked to the HR manager and the zonal HR team, but they said that those who have involuntary resignations cannot be given a relieving letter.

Can a company spoil the future of a former employee by withholding the relieving letter?

Kindly provide suggestions on what I can do.

This is a wrong HR practice. Whether it is voluntary or involuntary, resignation has nothing to do with the release letter.

If there are no other issues, the organization should issue you a release letter. Send an email to the topmost person of the organization stating that you have resigned and are released from the services of the organization on a particular date. Request them to issue the release letter.

S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah) CEO-USD HR Solutions

Dear Nanu Sir, Thank you for your response. I am currently in contact with the Zonal HR or HO (HR) Team. However, there are two issues at hand:

1. Relieving Letters for Employees Resigning Before One Year
The company does not provide relieving letters to employees who resign before completing one year. Yet, employees who resigned before me have received their relieving letters.

2. Claim of Involuntary Resignation
The zonal HR team later claimed that my resignation was involuntary, so I am being denied the relieving letter. Despite reaching out to every team via email, they keep sending certificates that do not match the relieving letter.

Should I escalate this matter to the high-level manager of my department in the company or directly to the CEO? Do you think they will be willing to assist me?

Yes, you should inform the highest level of the organization, i.e., the CEO, immediately. It has already been mentioned in my initial post.

S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah) CEO - USD HR Solutions

Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your help. I have received the relieving letter from the company yesterday.