Had to come back home between training period because of demise of my father

Sir/Madam, I am a resident of Jamshedpur seeking a solution for my problem. I was working with XXX Ltd. I joined it on 8th June 2015, and in June, I was undergoing a one-month training in Mumbai.

During the second week of my training, I received the unfortunate news of my father's sudden demise, and I had to return to Jamshedpur in the middle of my training. Throughout the training period, I stayed at home with my family.

In mid-July, I contacted the HR regarding my training, certificate, exam, and was informed that there would be no further training, no certificate, and that I could directly join the Kolkata branch whenever I was ready.

Consequently, I joined my colleagues at the Kolkata branch on the 15th of July. After a few days, my colleagues mentioned a bond that they were asked to sign at the end of training, which I had missed due to my absence. Despite this, I continued working without any mention of the bond.

I resigned from my position in December, and upon inquiring about the notice period, the HR informed me that it was not necessary to serve it. As I departed, a colleague also left without serving the notice period, as advised by HR.

Yesterday evening, I received an email regarding the payment of the bond fee, adding to my troubles. I find myself in a state of confusion, not knowing how to address this issue. I never intended to leave the job but succumbed to the pressure from my reporting manager, who continuously insisted on my resignation.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance or solution you can provide in this matter. Thank you and regards.

Overall, you have given information in sequence. Nevertheless, we need to know the following:

a) Has anything been mentioned about the cost of training or bond fee in your Appointment Letter? Has anything been mentioned about the notice period in your appointment letter?

b) While leaving your company, did you take proper clearance from all the departments? Did you ask for a "No Due Certificate" on your last working day?

c) What amount is quoted as "bond fee"?

d) Did you get any show cause notice or warning letter for your under-performance?

Partially, you are under stress because HR has done half the job. At the time of separation, there should have been clarity on the payment of dues, if any. Allowing the employee to leave and then, as an afterthought, sending an email asking for the payment of the bond fee is unprofessional. Nevertheless, we need to assess the tenability of their claim.

If you were unable to cope with the work pressure, then instead of resigning from the job, you should have allowed them to terminate your services. However, now there is no point in crying over spilt milk.

Final Comments: This feedback is in addition to your query. If you were unable to cope with the work pressure, then at that time, you could have approached this forum and asked for suggestions on how to cope with it. Regardless of the type of job, you will face a lot of work pressure. There are very few cushy jobs. A demanding job is a fait accompli of the 21st century. Did your incomplete training become the cause of your under-performance?

Therefore, I recommend being choosy in your next job. However, once you step in, there should not be any scope for retreat. Job stability is a basic requirement in building one's career. Therefore, keep in mind the English proverb, "the toughest of the tough steel has to pass through the hottest of the hot fire."

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

You don't need to worry. Contractual labor is banned in India, and hence you're not liable to pay a bond amount. You're, however, liable to pay the training expenses incurred, but it most probably won't reach that stage. Also, that amount would be negligible. My suggestion is that you ignore these letters or make it clear to the company that you're not entitled to pay a bond amount.

You can read more about this in the article below: [9 things you should do when an employee resigns - Quikchex - HR, Compliance and Payroll Software](http://quikchex.in/employee-resigned-9-things/)

Hi,

Nothing related to bond or bond amount was mentioned in the appointment letter, and nothing was mentioned from the HR department. I came back home from the training in the 2nd week itself. After a month, I called the HR to inquire about when I could undergo training again. The HR informed me that I was not required to complete the training nor was I eligible to receive the training certificate.

I agreed and proceeded to join the office directly. Even after joining, nobody in the office instructed me to sign any document related to a service agreement. My colleagues from the same training batch informed me that at the end of the training, they were provided with a service agreement that included a bond amount clause. They signed the agreement and returned it. A colleague mentioned that I was absent during the time the service agreement was distributed. I informed her that I would only sign the paper if the HR personally presented it to me. However, throughout my six months at the company, nobody mentioned the service agreement or the notice period to me.

Upon leaving, I asked the HR if I needed to serve a notice period, to which they replied in the negative, and I left the office.

Suddenly, I received an email stating that I owed a bond amount of 46000. I am certain that I did not sign any papers, and my colleagues confirm this, stating that I was absent during the signing as I was at home with my family for my dad's funeral.

Since you have not signed any papers related to training costs or bond fees, I recommend that you do not worry about this. You may send an email to them stating that you have left their organization with proper resignation. Therefore, the claim for the bond money is not tenable, and no correspondence hereafter will be entertained.

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

The organization is just trying its luck. HR has cleared your exit, and now asking for bond money is not in order. Just remain cool and do not bother about such demands. It will not stand in a court of law.