Feeling Trapped by a Company Bond? How to Handle Legal Threats and Withheld Salary

Hello, I was working in an MNC company with a bond of 3 years. They informed me that after one year of training, I should serve the company for 2 more years. However, after 5 months, I left the job because the working environment was too toxic. Now, the team is sending me messages that I have to rejoin the company; otherwise, they will take legal action. They also threatened not to enter the exit date in my PF account, preventing me from joining another company. However, I read that I have to pay the compensation amount only when they have spent money on my training, which they did not in my case. Before I left, three of my friends also left under the same conditions. The company has also withheld my 12 days' salary. I am now unsure about what to do. Please help.

Employer's Bond and Legal Implications

Very true. An employer can insist on paying a bond amount only when it is established that a quantifiable amount has been spent on an employee. Therefore, the demand by the employer is not legally maintainable. However, in practice, they can make your career difficult by providing negative comments on your service during background verification, etc. They can even initiate the exit process in the PF portal, but that can be overcome by entering the exit date yourself and having it approved with the intervention of the EPF Enforcement Officer.

Choosing Future Employers

However, if you choose an employer in the future who values a comment from a previous employer more than the work you can provide, then it will be very challenging. On the other hand, if you secure a government service or a position in a Public Sector Unit where the service letter or feedback from your previous private employer is irrelevant, you can challenge the employer or simply disregard the emails demanding the bond amount.

Hi, even if you were unhappy and unwilling to continue, you should have discussed your unwillingness with the employer and considered serving an extended notice period of 2-3 months to be properly relieved. Leaving the organization without any information is a very wrong practice.

Training Costs and Ethical Considerations

Regarding the money spent on training, how can you claim that your employer didn't spend any money on your training? Any specialized software you used involves a license cost, and the time your superiors spent training you, along with their salary, all count towards your training cost. Nowadays, many freshers join a company, learn concepts or software for a few months, and leave without information, citing various reasons. Do you think it is ethical on the part of trainees?

Proper Relieving and Notice Period Payment

It's better to find out from your employer about making some payment in lieu of the notice period and try for proper relieving.

Consequences of Unauthorized Absence

It is true that in the absence of any security checks, your employer may not pursue the case for a longer period and might close the file with a termination letter. However, during future Background Verification (BGV), they will surely disclose your unauthorized absence without information.

Exit Date and Disciplinary Process

Regarding the exit date, your employer should mark the exit date after the disciplinary process, and their statement that they will not mark the exit date is not right.