What is the best way to put an active employee on hold/inactive?

Summary

What is the best way to put an active employee on hold/inactive?

Content

We have a few employees that were overseas during Covid19 and are unable to return to work for the forseeable future. We still want to keep them in our system for when they come back but they are currently not getting paid and we don't want them to show in reporting for training etc. What is the best way to make the inactive?

Is it as simple as changing their assignment status to Suspended - No payroll?

Also how to other businesses manage when someone goes on maternity leave. Do you change their status so they don't show in overdue reports?