Can Employers Legally Ask You to Forfeit Other Job Offers After Accepting Theirs?

Employer Restrictions on Job Offers
Can any employer, after releasing an offer, ask a candidate to sign an undertaking that requests the candidate to forfeit any offer already accepted or not to seek out new opportunities in the market?

Hi, Yes, an employer can demand that an employee sign such an undertaking. It is the employer's decision! However, while employees who have signed the Training Agreement/Indemnity Bond may abscond without informing the employer, you cannot expect such an undertaking to bind a candidate who has just accepted the offer letter. Also, you cannot expect the candidate to honor the same after signing such an undertaking.

Alternatively, you can issue an offer letter without mentioning the salary, or, wherever possible, do not issue an offer letter and issue the appointment letter directly on the day of joining.

Mr. Lakshminarayanan, though I agree with your suggestion, on what basis would a person resign from their current employment without any written assurance of an offer in hand? I have tried not mentioning the salary in the offer letter, and it has worked.

Regards,
AA

Hi, convincing candidates with an oral offer is the biggest challenge! But there is no other way. Most of the time, candidates receive an offer and use it as a trump card to negotiate with other employers, often succeeding with that strategy.

Thank you.

I suggest that when you interview a person and expect them to accept your offer, keep the offer open for a period of one week or 10 days by the date on which they should sign and accept the preliminary offer letter. Normally, the company releases such a letter to the employee, and in the middle of the letter, they mention that the offer is open for acceptance before a specific date. Failing to do so will result in the offer being canceled, and there will be no guarantee of employment in the company. The original letter should be surrendered upon acceptance of the offer, and an appointment letter will be issued to you promptly on the date of joining the company, with biometric records created immediately.