business owner and employer here. can confirm: no, they cannot do that. your former employer broke the law.
employees have the right to quit their job at any time. if i refuse to accept my employees resignation letter the courts could consider my actions as a form of coercion or duress
as an employer i am obligated:
-to acknowledge an employee’s resignation letter and provide a response promptly.
-to respond in writing and detail the effective date of resignation and the final date of employment
-to inform my employee of any outstanding benefits or compensation that they are entitled to receive
notice period is the only area of contention, and even there, the courts have ruled that 'sufficient notice' is not standard and isn't binding. if i wanted to argue this point in front of a judge, i will lose the case and my reputation will take a hit
bottom line, i can't stop an employee from quiting, and i can't stop them from working anywhere else. it doesn't matter what i put into the employee agreement, the courts always side with the employee. in america, it's employment at will. i take a risk (big or small) when i hire someone, and when they quit, i wish them well and i move on
