Notice Period Change - Company Notice Period

Hi all,

I have been working for a company for the past two and a half years. When I joined, I agreed to a notice period of one month in my contract. Recently, the management sent out an email stating that the notice period policy has been changed from one month to two months. Can a company unilaterally change such policies? Can it compel employees to strictly adhere to the new two-month notice period?

Please share your opinions.

Regards,
Venu

Unilaterally, they cannot change, but they would have taken a signature on the copy of the circular. If they have not obtained the consent signature, legally, it is not valid. However, no one will go to court for such cases unless the notice period is changed to one year!!

Siva

The company cannot change the notice period unilaterally. In your appointment letter, you will observe that either party can sever the relationship by serving one month's notice. If the company changes their policy to a 2-month notice, then either party should benefit. From your posting, it appears that the company circular only informed the employees that the notice period is changed to 2 months. However, the same is legally not valid. But who is challenging such a trifle matter in the court of law?

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your replies. They have not taken my signature on the circular. Now they are saying that they will not issue the relieving documents unless I serve a two-month notice. As I mentioned before, I have already served one month and three days of notice. Is there any way to obtain my relieving documents? Please advise.

Regards,
Venu

Tact is the only solution. Handle it with tact. Handle with care. Top management actually may not really bother about these. In fact, some top managements relieve employees once they submit resignation. Normally, it is your boss who decides. HR will talk about rules, but as long as you pay the balance notice pay, they cannot say much. Approach tactfully, and you will succeed.

Siva