Can We Take Disciplinary Action for Absenteeism Without an HR Head in Place?

One of our employees was absent from duty for 10 days, and his HOD wants to take termination action on the grounds of continuous absence for 7 days or more, along with a decline in performance from January 2011 to December 2011. The HR head will be recruited next month. In this situation, can the employer initiate disciplinary action or issue a show-cause notice to the employee's HOD?

Many views and no reply. Well, in the absence of the HR Head of Department (HoD), the department head can initiate action by issuing an unauthorized absence notice. Then, the HR department can further respond by issuing a show-cause notice (by registered post) periodically, up to two times, allowing appropriate days for the notice reply. If there is no response from the said employee, then a third and final notice to terminate can be issued.

You can send the two warning letters within a span of 3 to 4 days via registered post, requesting the employee to report for duty within 48 hours and respond to the letter. If there is no reply or response from the employee, the third letter you send should inform them of their termination.

Regards,