Leaving a shift early without permission or disappearing during your scheduled time is a serious issue. This behavior disrupts the Partner’s operations and can negatively affect your standing on Instawork.
What counts as leaving early or without notice
Clocking out before the shift ends without informing the Partner.
Leaving the premises without permission.
Taking extended breaks (bathroom, lunch, or otherwise) without approval.
Being absent from your station without notifying the Partner.
If a Partner reports that you've left a shift early or disappeared during a shift without proper notification:
You may be blocked from working with that Partner in the future
You may receive a 1-star rating for the shift
You will incur an Urgent Defect on your account
You'll receive a notification via text message about being flagged for walking off a shift
Leaving early due to illness or emergency:
If you must leave a shift early because you are feeling sick or have a personal emergency, you must follow these steps to avoid a "walking off" penalty:
Notify the on-site supervisor or Captain immediately.
Clock out through the app at the time you actually leave.
Contact Instawork Support through the app to provide details about your early departure.
Important: You'll only get paid for the hours you worked. You won't get the 4-hour minimum pay if you leave because you're sick.
W-2 Pros: You may be able to request Paid Sick Leave for the time you missed. Contact support in the app.
How to properly end a shift
Always complete your full scheduled shift time
If you must leave early due to an emergency, speak directly with the on-site contact
Always clock out properly through the app when your shift is complete
Confirm with the on-site contact before leaving the premises
If you have questions about leaving your shift or encounter an issue during your shift, please contact our support team through the Instawork app.