Absconding | Meaning and Definition

What is Absconding?

Absconding meaning comes to the fore when the employer does not know where the employees are during business hours since they are not at the office and there is no communication from them.

On the other hand, absconding in human resources refers to an employee who has not reported to work for three days in a row and has not notified his management or peers about his location or the cause for his absence.

It is one of the most unethical and dishonest justifications for terminating an employment agreement. When this mistake occurs in their firm, HRs fear it since the employee abruptly decides not to go to work without giving over the acquired asset, data, and so on to the authorities. The intention of such an individual is scrutinized since his objectives and intentions may pose a risk to the company. No, the employee’s salary is not paid from the day he or she goes missing. On the other hand, an employer shall always clear all dues until the absconding employee‘s last day of employment.

What are the reasons an employee absconds from their workplace?

Job Dissatisfaction:

Employees may feel extremely dissatisfied with their job due to factors like poor working conditions, lack of career growth, or conflicts with management or coworkers. When these issues become unbearable, some employees may choose to leave abruptly without notifying anyone.
Personal Issues:

Employees might be facing serious personal problems, such as family emergencies, financial crises, or health issues, which they feel cannot be resolved while continuing to work. In such cases, they might abscond to deal with these situations without the added stress of their job.
Fear of Consequences:

If an employee is involved in misconduct, underperformance, or any activity that could lead to disciplinary action or termination. Although, they might choose to abscond to avoid facing the consequences.
Better Opportunities:

Sometimes, employees may receive a job offer that they perceive as significantly better, and in their excitement, they may leave their current job without following the proper exit procedures.
Workplace Stress:

High levels of stress or burnout, caused by long working hours, excessive workloads, or a toxic work environment, can drive an employee to abscond during working hours as a means of immediate escape.
Lack of Professionalism:

In some cases, employees may lack the professionalism or understanding of workplace ethics and may abscond simply because they do not realize the importance of serving notice or communicating their decision to leave.
Legal or Immigration Issues:

Employees facing legal troubles or immigration issues might abscond to avoid potential legal consequences, especially if they believe continuing in the job could exacerbate their situation.
Absconding is generally viewed negatively and can have serious consequences for the employee, including loss of future employment opportunities, legal action, or loss of benefits like unpaid salaries or provident fund contributions.

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