AWOL Employee? How to Handle Staff Who Stop Turning Up

We had a case recently where a client was concerned that their employee had gone AWOL.

Despite multiple attempts to contact the employee, they didn't hear back and were getting worried.

Here's what we told them to do...

1. Check they’re safe

Start with genuine concern. Try calling, texting and emailing them. If you still can’t reach them, check their emergency contact details.

If there’s any reason to think something might have happened, contact the police and request a welfare check. Sometimes what looks like an unauthorised absence is actually an AWOL situation due to a personal emergency.

2. Follow your internal process

Check your unauthorised absence policy and follow it step by step. Keeping things consistent protects both your business and your people.

If you don’t have a policy in place for AWOL situations like this, it’s a good idea to create one.

3. Keep a clear record

Keep a note of every attempt you’ve made to get in touch and any messages you’ve left.

If the situation develops into a disciplinary matter later, these records show that you acted reasonably. This becomes especially important in AWOL cases, where the employee has made no contact at all.

4. Give them time to respond

If you still haven’t heard back, write to them formally asking for an explanation.

Allow a reasonable timeframe for a response, usually 7 to 14 days depending on the circumstances. This step is critical when dealing with AWOL staff — it shows you’ve given them a fair chance to respond.

5. Take formal action if needed

If there’s still no response, you can start a disciplinary process.

Investigate the situation fully and follow your normal procedures before making any decisions about dismissal.

6. Be prepared for their return

If they do come back, hold a return to work meeting.

Find out what happened, listen to their explanation and agree the next steps together.

When someone disappears, it’s easy to get frustrated, but staying calm and following a clear process protects your business and shows that you’ve acted fairly.

If you’d like to make sure your absence and AWOL process is clear and up to date, get in touch.