Unless the employee has a contract or collective bargaining agreement (union contract) to the contrary, or the employee is a public employee and there is a civil service law that requires that the employer follow a different procedure, an employee may be suspended at any time, with or without cause, and without explanation of the reason for the suspension or how long it will last.

If suspended without pay, the employee may be able to start collecting unemployment, if otherwise eligible. If an employee is indefinitely suspended without pay, it often makes sense to look for work elsewhere.