RECENTLY, two senior employees of local companies were found seeking advice on the way forward to get the final settlement dues from their respective employers. Both of them had been working at senior positions, and one of them was also given a company car for his official and personal use. The other was a general manager in a company, and the employer was refusing to pay the provident fund amount of over Rs500,000 in addition to some other dues.
Knowing the two instances and the employees` reluctance to pursue lengthy cases, I wonder how many more such individuals may have been deprived of their hard-earned money by unscrupulous employers.
The aggrieved employees become helpless in the face of astronomical costs involved, and years of litigation and uncertainty.
Most of such employers do not give any appointment letter to their employees.
On the other hand, they ask them to give their undated resignations in advance to use them when needed.
Having looked at the text of appointment letters given by some employers, I believe itisbetternot to receive suchletters.
They actually read more like letters of termination than of appointment as they are replete with `threats of sacking`.
The terms and conditions of the appointment should be balanced, and should not unduly favour one of the parties to the detriment of the other.
