More white-collar companies are adopting "no-fault" attendance programs in an attempt to standardize discipline and curb chronic absenteeism. No-fault policies make a strict distinction between planned and unplanned time off. Unplanned absences can result in disciplinary action or termination after a set number of occurrences. Companies say these polices are necessary to deal with the high cost of unplanned absences, but many employees find them to be too inflexible.
See "Absences make the firms grow tougher", Barbara Rose, Chicago Tribune, April 17, 2005