Can my employer legally have me off work with no pay?
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Can my employer legally have me off work with no pay?
I recently was off work for a couple of days. My employer did not agree with the doctor’s note, saying that it did not give enough information for them, however that is all the information the doctor would provide. Since then I have been told that I am off work. I’m not suspended but off work for 2 weeks without pay until they get the information they want from the doctor. No notes or letters have been provided to me, I’ve just verbally been told that I can’t work until they get documentation they want. Is this legal?
Asked on June 10, 2018 under Employment Labor Law, Ohio
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Unfortuntely, yes this is legal unless it violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreement. The fact is that most work relationships are "at will". This means that a company can set the conditions of employment much as they see fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). This includes when and why to suspend (or even terminate) a worker. In fact, an employee can be suspended for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice.
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