As a retention policy companies ask form Bond.from Freshers. For experinced/experts Companies pay incentives and many more carrots for retention.
I am now talking of Bond for Freshers:
1. Whatever is the intelligence level/IQ level/topper in the class etc., Fresher is always a Fresher.
2. Fresher need to be moulded first for the comapniy's policies/procedures/culture and then to moulded trained for converting his theory knowledge for the requirment of the unit.
Many times we find that the Freshers (except for very few) takes atleast one year to adjust to the working atmoshpere/culture and then another one year to learn his work and deliver.. For this reason many Engineers are taken as trainees for one year and then 6 months to one year probation.
Employer invests money as well as time in developing the Fresher. There is nothing wrong that he expect such trainee to deliver atleast for one to two years.
There is story on the other side- Many companies attract/puch 2-3 years experienced executives which means they are avoiding the extending training to freshers and recruit ready made product who delivers from the day one at the cost of another company.
Therefore demand for execution of bond is reasonable.Whether it is 3 or 5 years is for the comapny to decide. After three years if the employee's market value is increased, the company has to review the compensation so that bond will be honoured by employee and no fears/doubts.
If the bond says about compensation payable in case of employer terminates the service without any reason it becomes a two way bond.
It makes no difference as far as employee is concerned when he breaks a bond.
I suggest it is better to decide in the beginning whether to continue for the bond period or not irrespective of the conditions in it. Once signed it is always better to honour it , any how he has given Fresher an opportunity/first stpe to grow in the life.