How long can an employer suspend you before either firing you or bringing you back to work?
Question Details:
I have been suspended for 2 1/2 weeks, almost 3 weeks. I have only heard of a maximum suspension of 2 weeks. I was just wondering if they can actually suspend me for that long?
I'm assuming you have no written contract with your employer, which makes you an employee "at will." The law says you can be fired for no reason at all, and it follows from that, that the company can do as it pleases about your hours, and your suspension. There have been cases where courts have held that a company's employee handbook or written procedures have the same binding effect as a contract, but that only happens when these are worded in a particular way. Company lawyers know about these cases, and it is now extremely rare to find written company policies that would get you anywhere.
There are exceptions to the "at will" doctrine, but your question doesn't explain why you were suspended. If that was a result of racial or religious discrimination, or in retaliation for filing a workers compensation claim, for example, you could fight this.
