我必须维持多久读出一个员工的工作吗cal Leave?

ByPenny Morey

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I have an employee who was released from work with a doctor's note for an undisclosed amount of time. It has been over 180 days and there has been no contact from this employee as to when or if they will be returning to work. I am not sure how long I have to hold their position or job. With economic times as they are, their services are not needed anymore. But I do not want to terminate their employment illegally. Also, since this employee has not contacted me or return phone call placed to them regarding their status, can this be considered "job abandonment"?
This is bad form on the part of the employee. But your company should have a policy in place that instructs people on the proper protocol to follow if they are out of work due to personal illness or injury. It should include a medical certification form that the employee has to have completed by his or her primary physician; and the policy should specify how frequently an updated medical certification form -- with a prognosis and estimated return to work -- should be submitted to the company. The policy should state that a completed form must also be submitted when the employee may return to work and include any accommodations that might be necessary based on the primary physician's advice. The policy also should state that failure to follow the medical leave policy may result in the company declaring that the employee has abandoned his/her job.

If your company has more than 15 full-time employees, you should adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act and its guidelines. If your company has more than 50 employees, you are subject to the Family Medical and Leave Act, as well and are obliged to follow those regulations.


If you are not at the size to have to adhere to the ADA or the FMLA, you can simply eliminate a job that no longer needs to be done and inform the "employee" (who refuses to communicate with you, evidently) via certified mail to his or her last known address that his or her job has been eliminated. In some cases, you could do this regardless of the size of the company. But it would be wise, if you are subject to ADA or FMLA, to check to see if you had inadvertently violated any of those regulations, and, if so, make corrections to your processes.

Wavy Line

Penny is a seasoned human resources executive and consultant with over 25 years of diverse business experience in advising enterprise leaders on employment-related matters.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's Family 'Stranded' at Boston Airport During 9-Hour Delay: 'We Made Quite a Home Here'

The actors spent $600 on pillows and blankets while waiting for their flight.

Marketing

How ChatGPT Is Changing Digital Marketing (for Better or Worse)

The current state-of-play strengths, weaknesses and potential of this breakthrough tech, and why owners and other execs should be aware of its capability gaps.

Business News

Mark Zuckerberg's Net Worth Soars to $113 Billion after Meta Stock Surges — Making Him the 9th Richest Person in the World

Mark Zuckerberg experienced a remarkable boost in his wealth, with gains of up to $9 billion, after Meta's stock surged by 9% following a robust second-quarter earnings report.

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Devices

Get an Extra Discount on a Tiny Camera, Just $60.99

This camera may be little, but there's a ton you can do with it.

Real Estate

How to Utilize Exclusive Rights and Use Clauses in Commercial Real Estate

From use clauses to tenant-landlord agreements, knowing your rights in commercial real estate is vital.