Wait 5 years for gratuity or take the pay hike? Here's what Indian workers said

“Risk toh Spider-Man ko bhi lena padta hai” (“Even Spider-Man has to take risks”), says Ranbir Kapoor in Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year. But what if the ‘risk’ is not about chasing dreams, but resigning from a job just months before gratuity lands in your account? Imagine this: you are four months away from completing five years at your company when a recruiter calls with a tempting offer, i.e., better pay, bigger role, shinier title. Exciting? Of course. But there is a catch. Leave too soon, and you could miss out on gratuity — a lump-sum benefit paid when employment ends, which employees can generally claim only after completing five years of continuous service in most cases. Read Full Story For lakhs of salaried Indians, this is more than a workplace dilemma. It is a quiet calculation made somewhere between disappointing appraisals, rising EMIs and tempting LinkedIn messages: stay for guaranteed money or leave for a bigger opportunity? Curious about what people actually choose, I spoke to professionals across industries, and their answers turned out to be far more emotional, practical and divided than I expected. 'I MISSED GRATUITY ONCE — AND HONESTLY, IT HURT' The first person I spoke to was Kush Sharma, a working professional from Delhi. His response felt instantly familiar — the kind many mid-career professionals quietly wrestle with. Photo: Kush Sharma Kush admitted he had already faced this crossroads once. He left a job before completing five years because a better opportunity came along, but the decision came with regret. “I did feel bad about missing out on gratuity. At the end of the day, everyone works for financial growth and stability. Many employees spend 3–4 years in one organisation, gain experience and skills, and then get a better opportunity. It becomes difficult because gratuity is linked to completing five years.” But when I asked what he would do if he were just a few months short of eligibility, his answer changed. “If I was only a few months short of completing five years, I would prefer to stay back. Gratuity is money earned over five years of service, and I would not want to lose it just because of a few months.” Kush even walked me through the numbers. Someone with a Rs 15 lakh annual package and a basic salary of around Rs 62,500 a month could lose nearly Rs 1.8 lakh in gratuity by leaving too early. His logic was simple: if the salary jump can recover the gratuity loss quickly and improve long-term growth — the move may still be worth it. FOR SOME, GRATUITY FEELS LIKE MONEY ALREADY EARNED Then came a very different perspective. Alka Sharma, who works in the social sector at Mahila Housing Trust, is currently delaying a job switch for one reason: gratuity. Photo: Alka Sharma Her explanation felt deeply practical. “In NGO jobs, salary is not very high, so gratuity money matters. After working for so many years, I feel I should not leave just a few months before getting this benefit. It feels like money I have earned through my hard work.” That line lingered. Because for many professionals, gratuity does not feel like a corporate perk. It feels like deferred earnings — money accumulated quietly over years of loyalty and effort. Alka told me she would almost certainly stay if she were close to eligibility. “I can use that money for savings, home needs or emergencies. Normally, I would first complete five years and then move.” ‘CAREER GROWTH MATTERS MORE THAN A ONE-TIME PAYOUT’ Not everyone I spoke to viewed gratuity the same way. When I spoke to Nini Sharma, an occupational therapist, she sounded firmly focused on the bigger picture. “I would not give up career growth only for a one-time gratuity benefit. Learning, better work exposure and future growth matter more.” Photo: Nini Sharma Her approach was simple: if a new role offers stronger long-term prospects, she would switch, even if gratuity was within reach. “If the role is much better for my career, I would choose the opportunity.” Nini’s perspective reflects a growing shift in today’s workforce, especially among younger professionals, who increasingly prioritise learning curves over long-term tenure. WHY YOUNGER PROFESSIONALS THINK DIFFERENTLY That shift became even clearer in my conversation with Anushka Gupta, who admitted gratuity barely figures in her career decisions, at least not for now. Photo: Anushka Gupta “At this stage, I feel it’s better to explore opportunities and learn from different environments rather than stay in one place for long-term benefits.” Yet even she paused at the thought of leaving just before the five-year milestone. “If I were very close to completing five years, I would probably consider staying for a few extra months. After investing that much time, it feels worthwhile to complete the milestone.” But she also raised an issue few people openly discuss: the hassle factor. “If getting gratuity involves a long wait or uncertainty, I’d probably prioritise the better role and compensation inste