Manager pulls last-minute stunt to extend notice period on employee's final working day; Reddit explodes with advice and outrage

Economic Times

5 days ago

iStock A Redditor shared their ordeal of being asked to extend their 90-day notice period on the last working day, sparking outrage online. Despite formal resignation processes being completed, the manager withheld clearance citing incomplete handover. (Representational image)
Picture this: you've slogged through a 90-day notice period, fulfilled every responsibility despite health issues, and finally packed up your work laptop to drop it off on your last working day. Relief is just a few hours away. But at 8 p.m. on the Friday before your exit, you receive a jarring email from your manager—your notice period has been extended . Why? Because 'knowledge transfer (KT) is incomplete.'
This exact scenario played out for a Redditor on the r/developersIndia subreddit. In a detailed and emotionally charged post, the soon-to-be ex-employee shared their ordeal of being held back just before the finish line, despite already having a confirmed last working day and a resignation portal indicating a completed separation process.
The Redditor had already communicated health concerns, even requesting an early release. However, the company refused. They diligently served the full notice period. But as they geared up to return office assets and bid goodbye, the manager insisted KT was pending and thus refused to clear them for exit. Worse still, no replacement had been hired, and the manager used this failure as a reason to keep the Redditor on indefinite hold. The employee was left in limbo: contractually done, but unofficially shackled.Redditors swiftly jumped in with sympathy and sharp advice. Most pointed out the clear illegality and unprofessionalism of the manager's last-minute move. 'Loop in HR and the reporting manager. You don't need permission—you're notifying them,' said one commenter. Another added, 'They won't give early release but have the audacity to extend your stay. This is a bluff—don't fall for it.' Some shared personal anecdotes of similar situations. One noted that in large firms often backs employees in such cases, especially when managers attempt to overstep. Others emphasized that a notice period is a contractual grace period for the company to hire replacements—not a leash to bind employees indefinitely. This incident has opened up broader conversations around employer overreach, especially in the tech sector. While employment contracts typically define the terms of resignation, many Indian employees report facing undue pressure during exits, including guilt-tripping, sudden demands, or radio silence from HR. What makes this case particularly galling is the timing and informality. The manager's email came after working hours, right before a weekend, and clashed with all prior formal communication confirming the employee's last working day.As one Redditor aptly put it: 'KT is their responsibility. If it wasn't done during the notice period, that's on them, not you.' The key takeaway for employees is to document every interaction, stick to the terms of their offer letter, and escalate quickly through official channels when managers attempt such power plays. And if a manager sends a dubious email outside work hours on a Friday? One Redditor had the perfect reply: 'You never saw it. You already submitted your laptop. You're out.'
This viral incident stands as a cautionary tale and a rallying cry: in the war of attrition between employees and corporate overreach, the internet might just be your strongest ally.