Job Abandonment: What Is It, How It Happens & How To Handle It?

Job abandonment is not a good thing from the point of view of the organization. If someone promises but fails to show up at work, it disrupts the workflow of the company, its productivity, as well as the schedules. Hence, this creates a situation where there is an immediate need for a replacement for the individual who abandoned the job.

In this article, you will learn some general details regarding job abandonment, as well as the common causes that result in job abandonment. We will also share with you some tips on how to spot job abandonment early and the steps you can take to prevent job abandonment. Finally, we will provide you with a few things that you need to consider while creating a job abandonment policy.

What Is Job Abandonment?

According to Indeed.com,

?Job abandonment is when an employee leaves their job without notice with no intention of returning?Job abandonment occurs in the event of a prolonged absence where the employee doesn’t contact the human resources department or their manager.?

It is common to confuse job abandonment as a situation where an employee does not show up for work or fails to notify, as in the case of a medical emergency. Job abandonment is different from such a situation. In this case, an employee has a voluntary prolonged absence, and the employee did not notify the company about anything.

What Are The Common Causes Of Job Abandonment?

The reasons for job abandonment can be many, and it depends on a variety of situations and distinct reasons. However, there are common patterns related to job abandonment. Here are some of the major reasons why an employee has abandoned the job:

1. The employee might have the fear of getting fired or the fear of receiving a sudden termination letter without prior warning.
2. The employee might not want to face difficult conversations or confrontations.
3. Due to new employment elsewhere.
4. Due to mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion from the workload.
5. Lack of understanding of the company?s policy for remaining absent or abandoning work.
6. Might be facing a conflict or strife at the workplace.

How To Spot Job Abandonment? – Major Signs

Here are some of the major situations which might show possible job abandonment:

1. An employee is absent for several consecutive days without any explanation or notification.

2. The employee is not responding to phone calls, emails, or any other communication method.

3. The employee took away all the personal belongings from the employee’s desk or the workplace.

How Can You Ensure To Prevent Job Abandonment?

It is not fully possible to eliminate job abandonment fully. However, you can take some preventive steps to ensure job abandonment does not happen.

According to a recommendation by AIHR.com,

?The point is to identify and rectify the underlying issues that may contribute to low employee engagement. Unreasonable demands or a toxic work environment can cause employees to detach and feel more inclined to jump ship without notice.?

Here are some steps to take:

1. Ensure communication by conducting surveys
2. Make employees aware of the attendance policies
3. Ensure an effective performance management system, and address performance issues
4. Review the attendance policy from time to time
5. Notify the employee and encourage them to open up about problems
6. Offer farewell to employees that part ways

Few Things To Consider While Making A Job Abandonment Policy

According to Leaders.com,

?While there are no federal or state job abandonment laws that individual workers must follow, businesses do have specific laws they must abide by. Such laws include the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which legally shield people from unlawful termination.?

However, if you follow the tips given below, you will be able to create a fair, useful, and effective job abandonment policy:

1. Define Job Abandonment Clearly

Before everything else, you must define job abandonment properly on the company?s policy. Basically, your employees must understand what job abandonment means. You will need to provide information about how many days of absence without notice is considered job abandonment.

2. Keep A Record Of Violations Of Rules

You must have a clear record of all the violations of the company rules. If you keep a log of all the violations, it will be easy to track those who are not abiding by the rules of the company. There are many automation software available nowadays to keep track of employees? attendance.

3. Ensure That The Policies Are In Compliance With The Law

You must follow the standard process of termination if you have concluded that job abandonment was really voluntary and is liable for termination. You must ensure that all the documentation is properly done and all the payout process is completed, along with the transition of the health benefits. You will make sure that a wrongful termination does not take place.

4. Communicate Clearly With The Employees

If you have decided to terminate an employee due to job abandonment, it is important to communicate with the employee. You must know the employee?s reasons. It might be a case of a medical emergency, family problem, or any unavoidable circumstance.

5. Ensure That There Are No Assumptions Or Prejudgements

It is important to stick to the procedure established by the law and take steps as per the policy created. As an HR, you must not make rash judgments or automatically fire someone who did not show up for work. Without jumping to conclusions early, communicate with the employee, and take your steps accordingly.

Bottom Line

Hope this article was helpful for you in giving you a better idea of job abandonment. You can see from this article that it is not easy for any organization to deal with job abandonment. However, if you have a clear policy to deal with such situations, you can ensure to deal with the difficulties and take steps faster to ensure there is no damage done.

However, the best thing is to take preventive measures beforehand and avoid job abandonment. Hence, the creation of fair and effective policies is important. Do you have any more tips on how to deal with job abandonment? Share your tips with us in the comments section below.

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