HR Glossary
Absent Without Leave (AWOL)
An unapproved absence from work where the employee hasn't formally requested or been granted leave.
Definition
AWOL describes a situation where an employee is absent from work without prior approval and without following the organization's leave request process. It's usually flagged automatically when attendance doesn't match an approved leave record.
Why It Matters
Automated attendance and leave systems make AWOL cases easy to spot immediately instead of discovering them at payroll time.