Call Off Policy?

First off, the system you described at work exists because people abuse the system, forcing administration to create childish point structures.

Where I work you have to call out three hours prior to your shift.

We have a similar point system where I work that came into effect when we became absorbed into a larger system. I hate it. We also have people show up to work who clearly shouldn't be there because they will be penalized for calling out.

We get a point when we call out, but if you call out for two shifts in a row that only gets one point. For example, if you call out for diarrhea, and you're scheduled for the next day as well, you technically have to call out for that day too, since our policy says you can't work till you're diarrhea free for 48 hours. As long as you call out for both shifts at the same time, it's only one point. But if you call for Monday and only call out for monday, are scheduled to work Tuesday, then call out Tuesday, that's two points. If you call out Monday, show up Tuesday and work part of your shift (not sure how many hours you have to work for this to happen) but you leave early, you get half a point. After so many points you get a written warning but it doesn't effect your yearly evaluation.

If we have one it's not enforced on the unit I work on. People late daily, nothing happens. People call off excessively, nothing happens

We're allowed three sick days per six month rolling period. We're never allowed to be late, but what really happens is the other staff all show up on time and if you're late everyone comments on it, so there's peer pressure to be on time. One of the rare times when peer pressure works, probably because they're not dicks about it they just all manage to notice that you came in late. If you're sufficiently lazy - sick too often, late too often, etc - you'll hear about it on your annual review. Two "does not meet expectations" on your review put you at risk of being put on formal warning where any infraction can be grounds to let you go. The culture of my unit is good enough that no one has had that happen in the last two years, and we're all more concerned about letting each other down than our manager.

Sorry, that last part was a little squishy. My unit culture is amazing.

I am not disagreeing; however, I am just picking up on flaws in that system. Hence why I am asking what has worked elsewhere in order to prevent unnecessary, frequent calloffs, but also to protect patient safety in the case of genuine illness.