What is the correct action to take regarding surplus money remaining for workers who left the company eight months ago and have not been found: Should the company reclaim it, should the cashier take it, or should the cashier wait a full year and then donate it as charity?

This money is the right of the aforementioned employees, and it is not permissible for the company or others to take it. Rather, it must be kept for them. If hope of finding them is lost, the money should be given as charity on their behalf for the public welfare of Muslims, such as building a mosque, a school, or a hospital. This applies to all money whose owner is unknown. Imam Al-Nawawi said: If one possesses unlawful money and wishes to repent from it, then if it has a specific owner, it must be returned to him or his agent. If the owner is deceased, it must be given to his heir. If the owner is unknown and hope of knowing him is lost, then it should be spent on the general welfare of Muslims, otherwise, it should be given as charity to a poor person or persons.