final paycheck for disappearing employee?

what do you folks do with the final paycheck for an employee that has just dropped off the face of the earth?

He was a new hire-first week he started at the end of the week and worked 2 days with me getting equipment ready for this season etc.

His second week he worked a full week-nothing too strenuous-collected his paycheck on friday for the preceeding week( the one for only 2 days)-and since then he has just disappeared

The adult part of me suspects that I should just mail the check to the address I have for him with a short note " I hope you are OK, and best wishes to you in your future..."

But the petty side of me wants to hold the check and see if he calls and asks for it-which would let me ask "gee, what happened to you?"

Of course-he did the work-and the money IS his- but I really don't feel obligated to track him down.- so-what would YOU do? stephen

Copperman....Amen. We have several like that.

Vaa....Ha! Bank acount? A good portion don't even have a drivers' license!

There's a reason they're looking for a job ;)

Hey that reminds me, Where is ole Jed???? He was a hoot. Wish he would have stopped by to say hi when he was Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day.

Had one guy drop off the face of the earth and never returned for his check. I mailed it and it was returned. I still have it. 8 years latter. I'm not worried about it if he isn't.

Geez, Im really digging up some old stuff. Correct me if I'm wrong But I beleive that money goes into a state or federal kitty. You are not allowed to keep it. Ask your Cpa.

Geez, Im really digging up some old stuff. Correct me if I'm wrong But I beleive that money goes into a state or federal kitty. You are not allowed to keep it. Ask your Cpa.

Stephen, I owe dozens of carpenters some pay, ranging from 15 minutes to a full day...maybe more!

I'm still waiting for them to turn in their hours and witholding papers. When they do, I'll gladly pay them.

Yes, certified mail it and plop the receipt in the employee file.

Yes, that's probably better, but if a drunk dad signs it, he's the one that broke the law. I believe you are obligated to try and get the guy his money, even if the check is never cashed. Gotta be turned into gov't unclaimed funds or something like that I think.

Mike, that sounds like the easiest,most reasonable thing- but I am not so sure it really absolves me of ANYTHING. Let's say I mail it- that's my first inclination anyhow.- who is to say wether he ever gets it? Who is to say that his un-employed father doesn't forge his signiture and cash it while he is in lock up or whatever?

I am thinking registered mail where someone has to sign a reciept for it. stephen

Absolve yourself of any liability and mail the check.

Its the same thing here,work till first pay then dont see them,if i owe them money i wait till they contact me,pay them,and see ya.

experience tells me that ALL of these guys come with baggage-it's just a question of how long it takes untill their baggage comes to the surface. 7 days seems a little soon!

The guy disappearing actually solves a problem for me ,as I was gonna have to have a talk with him anyhow. He was technically able to do anything and everything I asked him to do-but he just totally lacked any inner drive. Stephen