absences

Absence, and its plural absences, refers to the state of not being present or the lack of something that is normally present. The word derives from Latin absentia and Old French. Absences are recorded or counted in various contexts, including attendance, supply chains, project tracking, and legal or policy records.

In education, absenteeism describes students who miss classes. It is typically measured by the number of days or sessions missed within a term. Consequences can include reduced learning, lower grades, lower engagement, and increased risk of leaving school. Causes include illness, caregiving responsibilities, transportation problems, and disengagement. Schools address absences through attendance policies, outreach to families, counseling, and support services.

In the workplace, absence refers to time away from work. Reasons include illness, caregiving, vacations, and burnout. Absences disrupt workflow, affect productivity, and may increase costs. Employers manage through leave policies, attendance tracking, flexible scheduling, remote work options, and return-to-work programs.

In medicine, absence seizures are brief episodes of impaired consciousness, primarily in children. They are distinct from normal daydreaming and require evaluation, including EEG. Treatment commonly involves antiepileptic medications and epilepsy management, with goals of reducing episodes and improving safety and development.

In data management, absences indicate missing data. Missingness can be random or systematic and can bias analyses if not handled properly. Methods include data imputation, analysis that accommodates missing data, or models that address missing data.