Abandonment of employment is one of those concepts that is so often misunderstood by employers.
Take it from us, an employee being absent from work without authorisation or approval or without supplying a reason, does not of itself entitle an employer to dismiss an employee for having “abandoned” their employment.
Even where an Award might seem to condone it, employers will be putting their businesses at risk if they dismiss an employee for abandonment without first getting advice from an employment lawyer. But if you don’t want to do that, for whatever reason (pssst, we don’t bite…), please at least first make genuine attempts to contact the employee to understand the reason/s for non-attendance (and make sure that you write it all down).
