Noun

Singular absence

Plural absences

absence (plural absences)

1. A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence.

   Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. - Phillippians 2:12

2. Want; lack; destitution; withdrawal.

   In the absence of conventional law. - Kent

3. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind.

   Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind. - Joseph Addison

   To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. - Landor

Antonyms

• presence

Derived terms

• absence makes the heart grow fonder

Related terms

• absent
• absentee
• absenteeism

Czech

Noun

absence f.

1. absence

French

Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation.

Workplace

Frequent absence from the workplace may be indicative of poor morale or of sick building syndrome. However, many employers have implemented absence policies which make no distinction between absences for genuine illness and absence for inappropriate reasons. One of these policies is the calculation of the Bradford factor, which only takes the total number and frequency of absences into account, not the kind of absence.

As a result, many employees feel obliged to come to work while ill, and transmit communicable diseases to their co-workers. This leads to even greater absenteeism and reduced productivity among other workers who try to work while ill. Work forces often do excuse absenteeism caused by medical reasons if the worker supplies a doctor's note or other form of documentation. Sometimes, people choose not to show up for work and do not call in advance, which businesses may find to be unprofessional and inconsiderate. This is called a no call or no show. According to Nelson & Quick (2008) people who are dissatisfied with their jobs are absent more frequently. They went on to say that the type of dissatisfaction that most often leads employees to miss work is dissatisfaction with the work itself.