For many freelancers and small businesses, September is not only a return to business activity, but it can also mean facing administrative, labor, or cybersecurity issues that could jeopardize operations if not addressed promptly.
Therefore, Legálitas Negocios reviews the most common setbacks entrepreneurs may encounter after the vacation period and the legal solutions to tackle them properly.
1. You forgot to request courtesy days and you’re facing IRS notices
Many freelancers take vacations to disconnect, but the government doesn’t stop. If you didn’t request the so‑called courtesy days in advance, you may return to electronic notices from the IRS, information requests, or communications related to tax procedures.
In this situation, it’s wise to immediately review your IRS Online Account and check the status of the notifications you’ve received. Even though some deadlines may have started while you were away, in certain cases it’s still possible to submit the required documentation or take actions to avoid larger penalties.
Legálitas Negocios notes that, if the deadline to file objections on your tax file has expired, the first step is to determine whether the IRS has already issued the final assessment or settlement and to file late objections promptly, because, under the principle of administrative efficiency, if you send the objections and evidence before the official signs the final proposal or the assessment, the agency is required to consider them.
2. Your business has been robbed or vandalized during the holiday shutdown
If upon returning from vacation you find a forced shutter, damage to the premises, or stolen merchandise, it is important not to touch anything. After calling the police or sheriff to file a report, detail the list of items, their value, purchase invoices, photographs, etc., as evidence, and preserve security camera footage before it’s erased or overwritten.
Subsequently, you should inform your insurer. Typically, businesses carry a multi-risk policy that covers theft or vandalism. The reporting window is usually a maximum of seven days from the time of the incident.
The insurance company typically offers a swift payout that allows you to resume operations.
3. Your business website has been hacked and customer data has been accessed
Vacations are also a particularly sensitive time for cybersecurity. Many companies scale back activity and their systems are less monitored, which cybercriminals can exploit to access websites, databases, or management systems.
When you return, you may discover unauthorized access, changes to the site, or even the exposure of customers’ personal data.
When there is a data breach affecting personal data, Legálitas Negocios notes that the entrepreneur must act quickly to contain the incident, assess the scope of the impact, and evaluate legal obligations that may arise under data protection laws, including, where appropriate, notifying the competent authority and the affected individuals.
4. An employee does not return to work after vacation
Another relatively common situation is that, once the vacation period ends, some employee does not return to their position and cannot justify their absence.
In such a case, the first step is to contact the employee through the usual channels (phone call, email) and ask for the reason for the non‑return, since absences may be justified.
If you cannot reach the employee, consider sending a formal notice by certified mail (a document that verifies both delivery and content), giving them the opportunity to justify their absences and informing them that, otherwise, disciplinary action will ensue.
If, after a reasonable period following receipt of the notice, the employee still does not return or justify their absences, after verifying whether there is a medical leave (temporary disability), several scenarios may apply:
- Unexcused absence: If the absence is not justified, it is treated as an attendance deficiency under the applicable labor laws. You should check the relevant collective bargaining agreement and apply the appropriate disciplinary sanction or dismissal: accumulating unexcused days can justify disciplinary action or termination.
- Not automatically a voluntary resignation: Absence from work does not automatically equate to voluntary resignation; the company should process the termination or request a formal abandonment.
5. The last quarter of the year: key for optimizing your business taxes
Legálitas Negocios states that returning from vacation is also a good moment to review the company’s financial situation before year‑end.
Analyzing income, expenses, planned investments, and business needs can help you take advantage of certain tax benefits, plan investments, pre‑purchase items necessary for the activity, or incur strategic expenses before the end of the year.
