How to build an attendance point system that holds up

A no-fault attendance point system assigns a set number of points to each attendance incident: a call off, a no call no show, a tardy, or an early departure. Points add up inside a rolling window, and defined totals trigger steps of progressive discipline, from a verbal warning up to a termination review. The value of the system is consistency. The same incident earns the same points for everyone, so attendance decisions rest on a documented record instead of a supervisor's judgment in the moment.

Start from a preset, then make it yours

The three presets reflect common patterns. The standard plant preset uses one point per call off, two for a no call no show, and a twelve month window, which is the setup most production operations recognize. The strict preset tightens values and thresholds for safety sensitive environments where an unexpected empty station creates real risk. The lenient preset suits small shops that want structure without a hair trigger. None of them is a legal standard. Edit any value and the system is yours.

The window matters as much as the points

Points should roll off after a fixed period from each incident, most commonly twelve months. Without a window, points accumulate forever and the system punishes history instead of behavior. With one, an employee who fixes the problem genuinely recovers, which is what gives the system credibility on the floor.

Protected leave is the line you never cross

Time off protected by the FMLA, an ADA accommodation, workers' compensation, or a state or local protected-leave law cannot earn points or count toward discipline, even under a no-fault policy. Counting protected absences is how point systems turn into interference and discrimination claims. The summary this tool prints states the exclusion in plain language so every supervisor who reads it knows the rule.

What point values should a plant use?

There is no legal standard, only patterns. A common plant setup is one point for a call off, two for a no call no show, a half point for a minor tardy, and a full point for a serious one. Safety sensitive operations often run stricter values and lower thresholds. The presets here reflect those patterns as starting points; the right values are whatever your leadership will enforce consistently.

How long should points stay active?

Twelve months from the date of each incident is the most common rolling window, which is why the standard preset uses it. Smaller shops sometimes run six months so a rough stretch does not follow someone for a year. Pick one window and apply it the same way for everyone.

What is a pattern absence?

A call off attached to scheduled days off, holidays, or paydays, such as the repeated Friday or the day after every long weekend. Many plant policies add an extra fraction of a point when a call off fits a pattern, because patterns are where attendance abuse usually hides. Set the add-on to zero if you do not want to track it.

Can attendance points apply to protected leave?

No. Absences protected by the FMLA, an ADA accommodation, workers' compensation, or a state or local leave law must be excluded from points and from discipline, even under a no-fault policy. The printed summary states that exclusion in writing, which is exactly where it belongs.

Is the printed summary a finished policy?

No. It is a clean draft of your point values, thresholds, window, and the protected-leave exclusion, built for internal review. A complete policy also covers call-in procedure, documentation, perfect attendance resets, and how disputes are handled, and it should be reviewed by qualified HR or legal counsel before adoption.