16/01/2026
The 90-Day Notice Period: A Broken System That Hurts Everyone
The 90-day notice period has become “normal” in many Indian companies, but honestly, it is harmful for both employees and employers.
Here’s what goes wrong:
Employees feel stuck. Once they resign, they are forced to stay for three months even when they are mentally checked out. Productivity drops, motivation is low, and stress increases.
Companies also suffer. Hiring teams struggle because candidates with 90-day notice periods are often rejected or kept as backup. Many candidates accept offers, keep interviewing, and leave at the last moment for better pay. Trust breaks on both sides.
The biggest irony?
Companies expect new hires to join immediately or within 15–30 days, but when an employee wants to leave, suddenly 90 days becomes “non-negotiable”.
This system encourages:
• Offer shopping
• Ghosting by candidates
• Toxic work culture
• Loss of trust between employees and employers
So how do we fix this?
Make 30 days the standard notice period
Allow genuine early releases without guilt or penalties
Focus on proper handover processes, not forced retention
Retain people with growth, respect, and pay — not contracts
Build a culture where exits are professional, not painful
People don’t leave companies suddenly. They leave because they feel unheard, undervalued, or stuck.
A more employee-friendly system will create:
✔ Better hiring outcomes
✔ More honest candidates
✔ Higher productivity
✔ Stronger employer branding
It’s time to move from control-based policies to trust-based cultures.
What do you think — should the 90-day notice period be reduced or removed?
