Suspension definition

When an employee is suspended, they are excused from work for a specific period of time, often without pay but not always, either as a disciplinary measure or pending an investigation into wrongdoing. When an investigation is pending, employees may be suspended without actually having done anything wrong, but because their continued presence in the workplace could prejudice the outcome or process of the investigation.

Suspension may be used as a first-step disciplinary measure, often with more serious misconduct or gross misconduct, or may be called upon later down the line once initial disciplinary measures have not worked.