Unexcused Absence: Definition, Examples and Policy for Employers

Short answer: An unexcused absence is a missed shift that was not approved in advance and is not covered by your attendance policy or by a legally protected reason. Examples include skipping a shift without a valid reason or not following the call-out procedure. Your written policy decides what counts as excused, and some absences, such as protected medical or family leave, cannot be treated as unexcused.

Manager reviewing an unexcused absence on the schedule — Unexcused absences show up against the schedule.

Excused vs unexcused absence

Usually excused	Usually unexcused
Approved PTO or vacation	Missing a shift without notice
Sick leave reported per policy	Not following the call-out procedure
Jury duty, military leave	Repeated absences beyond the policy limit
Protected leave (for example, FMLA where it applies)	Leaving a shift early without approval

A no-call no-show is the most serious type: the employee neither works nor tells anyone. Many policies treat a set number of no-call no-shows as job abandonment.

What to put in your policy

How and when to report an absence, and to whom.
What counts as excused and what documentation you may ask for.
The steps after repeated unexcused absences.
How absences interact with late arrivals and tardiness.

See our attendance policy guide and handling employee sick calls. Some states and cities have paid sick leave laws, so check local rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Tracking absences

With EZTime, missed clock-ins show up against the schedule, approved time-off requests are already marked, and managers see patterns without paper.

Frequently asked questions

What is an unexcused absence?

A missed shift that was not approved and is not covered by your policy or a protected reason.

Is a sick day an unexcused absence?

Not if it is reported according to your policy and, where applicable, covered by sick leave law.

What is the difference between an unexcused absence and a no-call no-show?

A no-call no-show is an unexcused absence where the employee also did not notify anyone.

See absences and late arrivals against the schedule. Start your 14-day trial or book a demo.

Updated November 2026. General information only; not legal advice.