Absconding
What is absconding?
Absconding refers to a situation where an employee quits their job without prior notice or a formal resignation process. It typically involves not showing up to work for consecutive days without communication or proper authorization from the employer. Absconding is usually treated as a serious violation of workplace policy and can have a legal and professional consequences for the employee, including the breakdown of trust and relationships with the employer and their colleagues.
What are some common reasons for absconding?
Employees quit an organization for many reasons. Here are some common factors:
Job opportunity:
When employees receive better job opportunities, they may take it immediately without providing notice to their previous employer.
Workplace dissatisfaction:
When there's poor workforce management and lack of coordination with the other team members, it could cause job dissatisfaction.
Personal emergencies:
When employees have personal or family matters to attend to, they may be unable to follow the traditional resignation process.
Conflict with colleagues or managers:
Workplace conflicts can lead to a hostile environment where employees feel unsupported or even unsafe. To protect themselves, they may walk away from their job without notice.
Career burnout:
Sometimes, due to prolonged job dissatisfaction in the same industry, employees feel overwhelmed or exhausted, can lead to burnout.
What measures can be used to prevent an employee from absconding?
Onboarding communication:
Explain notice periods, contracts, and policies upfront.
Maintaining a healthy work culture:
Ensure employees feel valued and supported.
Addressing grievances quickly:
Solve problems before they escalate.
Flexible work options:
Reduce personal or logistical reasons for sudden exits.
Regular check-ins:
Have managers keep tabs on team morale and workload.
What happens to an employee's provident fund (PF) after they abscond?
Absconding does not affect an employee’s right to their provident fund (PF). It's controlled by India's EPFO, so they can still claim or transfer it after leaving their job, regardless of how the exit happened.
Can absconding affect future employment?
Yes, absconding can negatively impact an employee's future employment, as it can come up in background verification checks and even lead to blacklisting.
Is absconding the same as termination?
No, absconding and termination are two different concepts, but they both involve an employee leaving a job. Absconding is when an employee leaves the organization without formally resigning, whereas termination is when an employer formally ends their relationship with the employee.