Q: We have an employee who has been off sick for 12 weeks and has not sent in any sick notes for the last four weeks or been in touch. We wrote to him asking him to contact us but have heard nothing. Can we assume he has resigned?
A: You have not told me what the cause of the sickness absence is but with long-term sickness absence there is always a possibility the condition could be classed as a disability so extra care is needed.
What if he is in hospital? The first thing to do is make a real effort to get in touch. Call round to the house. He may have moved. Only when you have exhausted all routes can you dismiss.