Possible Clues:

• A worker ecstatic to be called in? No!
• He's not there, like Macavity and Lord Clonbrony
• One who stays away
• One is not all there - not at all
• Hooky player
• He should be present but isn't
• Apology from me? It may be conveyed in a meeting
• Missing person might be seen at display
• Sailor banished to quarters for being a defaulter
• Like an out-of-state elector's ballot