To call out of a shift at Walmart, call the associate information line at 1-800-775-5944 before your shift starts. You’ll need your Walmart Identification Number (WIN) and your store number to complete the process. The automated system will give you a confirmation number, which you should write down or screenshot as proof you reported the absence.
Steps to Report Your Absence
When you call 1-800-775-5944, the automated system will walk you through a few prompts. Have your WIN ready (you can find it on your pay stub or in the Me@Walmart app) along with your store number. Select the reason for your absence from the menu options, and the system will generate a confirmation number at the end of the call.
You can also report an absence through the One Walmart portal online. Log in with your associate credentials, navigate to the “Report an Absence” option, and follow the on-screen steps. Either method works, but calling is the most common route, especially if you’re reporting early in the morning or at the last minute.
Timing matters. You need to report your absence before your scheduled shift begins. If you don’t call in at all, the system treats it as a no-call/no-show, which carries a much steeper penalty than a standard call-out.
How the Attendance Point System Works
Every time you call out of a shift, Walmart assigns attendance “occurrences,” commonly called points. A regular call-out costs one point. Missing a shift on a key event date, which includes major holidays and other days your store manager designates as high-priority, costs two points instead.
A no-call/no-show is the most expensive mistake. Failing to report your absence before your shift doubles the penalty: two points on a regular day, four points on a key event date. Points accumulate over a rolling six-month window, and reaching five points within that window can result in termination. New associates within their first six months may face a lower threshold, so building up points early is especially risky.
Using PPTO to Cover a Call-Out
Protected Paid Time Off (PPTO) is the tool that lets you call out without getting hit with attendance points. When you use enough PPTO to cover the hours you missed, those points are removed. You don’t need to provide a doctor’s note or any other documentation. PPTO can be used for any reason.
To submit PPTO, go into the GTA (Global Time and Attendance) portal and request the hours after your absence. You have seven calendar days from the date you missed to enter the PPTO request. The system checks your PPTO balance as of the day you submit, so make sure you have enough hours accrued before you file.
If your PPTO balance doesn’t fully cover the missed shift, the system will automatically pull from your regular PTO to pay you for the remaining hours. However, only the portion covered by PPTO actually protects you from points. The regular PTO hours still count as unexcused for attendance purposes.
One important limit: PPTO can erase the points for the absence itself, but it cannot erase the no-call/no-show penalty. If you forget to call in and then try to apply PPTO after the fact, you’ll still carry the extra points from not reporting. Always call the hotline first, then submit PPTO later.
Key Event Dates and Double Points
Walmart designates certain days throughout the year as key event dates. These typically include Thanksgiving week, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and other peak retail periods. Your store manager can also add dates specific to your location, so check the posted schedule or ask a manager for the current list.
Calling out on a key event date costs two points instead of one. PPTO still works on these days. If you have enough PPTO to cover the full shift, the two-point penalty is removed just like it would be on a regular day. But if you’re short on PPTO hours, you’ll absorb the full double-point hit, which can push you close to the termination threshold fast.
When You Need More Than a Day Off
If you’re going to miss three or more consecutive days for a medical reason, either for yourself or to care for a family member, you should file a leave of absence through Sedgwick, Walmart’s third-party leave administrator. You can reach Sedgwick by calling the number listed on One Walmart or by filing a claim online through their portal.
Filing through Sedgwick puts your absence into a formal leave category, which can protect your job under the Family and Medical Leave Act if you’re eligible. Without a leave claim on file, each consecutive missed day racks up its own attendance points. Even if you plan to file for leave, still call the 1-800-775-5944 hotline each day you’re absent until your leave is officially approved, so those days aren’t flagged as no-call/no-shows.
Quick Reference for Calling Out
- Phone number: 1-800-775-5944
- What you need: Your WIN and store number
- When to call: Before your scheduled shift starts
- Confirmation number: Write it down or save a screenshot
- PPTO deadline: Submit within seven days of the absence
- Regular call-out: 1 point
- Key event date call-out: 2 points
- No-call/no-show: Double the points, and PPTO won’t erase the no-call penalty