Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinant factors of teachers' and health workers' absenteeism in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach - The research is based on desk study where the research explores the existing literatures about health and education sectors in Indonesia and explores the existing data about health and education sectors in Indonesia. The research is also based on the author's experiences as an employee of central government. Findings - The author identifies six determinant factors of teachers' and health workers' absenteeism. These include the following: inadequate infrastructures (road and bridge); bad working conditions; absence of sanction; bribery; side jobs; and low salaries (only for health workers). Research limitations/implications - Since Indonesia is a big country, this research could only identify six determinants; there might be other determinants, which are not identified. Further research in absenteeism should take the decentralization system in Indonesia into account. The decentralization system must have a big impact on absenteeism, whether it is to reduce or to increase the practices of absenteeism. Originality/value - The bribery has an important role in that it makes people lazy to work and makes them perform absenteeism.