A no call, no show is a form of absence from the workforce, which is generally considered inconsiderate and very unprofessional. When a worker misses work, especially in jobs where ones workload would need to be substituted for the day (teachers, cashiers, servers etc), it is generally expected that he/she call in advance to warn of his/her absence, so his/her workload can be completed by the present workers. Many businesses have forms of punishments as a result of no call, no show's such as counseling statements, suspension and possibly termination of employment.

There are various reasons why a no call, no show occurs:

• Sometimes, an employee who does not show up to work without reporting is quitting the job, but doing so inconsiderately by abandoning his/her position and discontinuing all further communications with the employer.
• There are times, however, when a no call, no show is not preventable, such as when a good-faith employee is suffering a medical emergency and is unable to communicate with the employer. An employer is more likely to excuse such an absence if the employee has a good prior attendance record.
• In some cases, the employee does report the absence to the employer, but the employer fails to receive the communication.
• It can be also construed that the employee wants to take the day off without any hassling questions from the employer.