How do I write an employee for attendance issues?
Christopher Davis
Updated on March 29, 2026
Here are the steps to write up an employee for attendance:
- Gather data. Your write up should include the employee’s attendance record.
- Discuss previous measures taken.
- Explain the effects.
- Outline next steps.
- Ask for feedback.
- Deliver the write up.
- File the write up.
How do you discipline an employee for poor attendance?
Follow these steps so your employees know exactly where you stand:
- Step 1: Put it in writing.
- Step 2: Gather information.
- Step 3: Tell them you’ve noticed.
- Step 4: Show your concern.
- Step 5: Open up a discussion.
- Step 6: Make accommodations when appropriate.
- Step 7: Know when to take it up a notch.
How do you write a warning letter to an employee for absenteeism?
Dear Mr. / Ms. (First Name of the Employee), We regret to note that you were absent from work from (Date) to (Date) without taking any prior permission neither have you informed the causes of your absence during the leave. We understand that you have joined back to the office today.
Can you be given a written warning for being off sick?
Even if all your sickness absences are genuine and certificated, you can still be given a formal warning because of high levels of sickness absence. If the problem continues, you can eventually be fairly dismissed.
Can you write up an employee for calling in sick?
“If you’re working in a state with at-will employees, they can fire you for anything that’s not illegal,” Augustine says. That means that unless you qualify for legal protections under FMLA or the Americans with Disabilities Act, there is nothing stopping an employer from firing you for calling in sick.
What is poor attendance at work?
Employee absenteeism is a frequent lack of attendance at work without valid cause. Absenteeism does not include the occasional no-call, no-show or instances that can’t be controlled, like illness or car trouble.
How do you write an employee for excessive tardiness?
Format. You may use a confidential memorandum or letter format to write the letter. At the top left corner, put the employee’s name and title, your name and title, and the date and type of warning being issued. In the latter case, your subject line may say “Written warning due to excessive tardiness.”
When do you have to report absence from work?
It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that the department is informed when illness or injury results in absence from work. Employees who will be absent are required to call (or have someone else call) their immediate supervisor or the department head within one hour of their scheduled reporting time.
Who is responsible for notification of absence from work?
This policy applies to all staff employees. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that the department is informed when illness or injury results in absence from work.
Is there an employee who is not reporting to work?
One of our employees isnt reporting to work nor does he inform his reporting manager of his whereabouts. But he is replying to mails that have been written to him since the last 3 days. What letter can I write to him for his behavior?
What do you need to know about authorized absences?
Include a description of your company’s policies on authorized absences in your employee handbook. Be sure to note that employees must obtain approval from their immediate supervisors before submitting the enclosed form to your personnel or human resources department. Give consistent treatment to all of your employees.