What Being Suspended Means
You were told to stay home while an allegation against you is looked into.
Suspension is stressful, but it is not a dismissal and it is not a final judgment against you.
What it means
You are told to stay away from work while your employer investigates an allegation, sometimes before or during a domestic inquiry.
It is meant to hold the position while the facts are checked, not to punish you before anyone has examined them.
Why it matters to you
A suspension that drags on with no progress on the investigation can become part of a fairness argument if you are later dismissed.
Keep every letter and message about the suspension, because the dates and reasons you were given may matter later.
Should you still be paid
Whether you are paid during suspension depends on your contract and the facts. Ask your employer in writing for your pay status and how long the suspension is expected to last.
If the suspension leads to a domestic inquiry, that page explains what the hearing involves.
If it ends in dismissal, your 60-day window to challenge it starts from that date, which you can check on the deadline calculator.
If you were suspended before or instead of being dismissed and you are considering a claim, an independent employment lawyer can look at your facts. They can advise whether it is worth pursuing.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.
Common questions
Should I still be paid while suspended?
This depends on your contract and the circumstances, and practice varies. It is worth checking your contract and asking your employer directly, in writing, what your pay status is during this period.
How long can a suspension last?
There is no single fixed length that applies to every case. A suspension that drags on for an unreasonably long time without progress is worth raising, since it should support an ongoing investigation, not replace one.
Keep reading
If you were suspended before or instead of being dismissed and you are considering a claim, an independent employment lawyer can look at your facts. They can advise whether it is worth pursuing.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.