What is call out?

Call-out refers to a situation where an employee is required to report to work at a scheduled time but instead informs their employer that they cannot come in for that shift due to various reasons such as illness, emergency, personal reasons, or unavailability. This process is also known as absenteeism or absentee reporting, and it is common in most industries and companies.

An employee is expected to notify their employer of their absence as early as possible to allow for proper scheduling of coverage and adjustment of workload. The communication is usually done through phone calls, email, or text messages, depending on the company’s policies.

Frequent call-outs can cause disruptions in the workflow, lead to understaffing, and impact the overall productivity of an organization. Therefore, employers often have policies in place to manage and monitor absenteeism, which may include disciplinary action or termination of the employment contract.

On the other hand, some organizations offer paid or unpaid leave options or flexible work arrangements such as remote work to help employees manage work-life balance and reduce call-outs.