diff --git a/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_employee.py b/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_employee.py
index 16a318988a2..f8f3e85e15d 100644
--- a/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_employee.py
+++ b/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_employee.py
@@ -180,7 +180,10 @@ class HrEmployeeBase(models.AbstractModel):
             ('date_from', '<=', today_end),
             ('date_to', '>=', today_start),
         ])
-        return [('id', 'in', holidays.mapped('employee_id').ids)]
+        op = 'not in'
+        if (operator == '=' and value) or (operator == '!=' and not value):
+            op = 'in'
+        return [('id', op, holidays.mapped('employee_id').ids)]
 
     @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
diff --git a/addons/hr_holidays/tests/test_out_of_office.py b/addons/hr_holidays/tests/test_out_of_office.py
index 567ceabff66..6ad58bb045d 100644
--- a/addons/hr_holidays/tests/test_out_of_office.py
+++ b/addons/hr_holidays/tests/test_out_of_office.py
@@ -103,3 +103,18 @@ class TestOutOfOfficePerformance(TestHrHolidaysCommon, TransactionCaseWithUserDe
         self.leave.write({'state': 'validate'})
         with self.assertQueryCount(__system__=2, demo=2):
             self.assertEqual(self.hr_partner.im_status, 'leave_offline')
+
+    def test_search_absent_employee(self):
+        present_employees = self.env['hr.employee'].search([('is_absent', '!=', 'True')])
+        absent_employees = self.env['hr.employee'].search([('is_absent', '=', 'True')])
+        today_date = datetime.utcnow().date()
+        holidays = self.env['hr.leave'].sudo().search([
+            ('employee_id', '!=', False),
+            ('state', 'not in', ['cancel', 'refuse']),
+            ('date_from', '<=', today_date),
+            ('date_to', '>=', today_date),
+        ])
+        for employee in present_employees:
+            self.assertFalse(employee in holidays.employee_id)
+        for employee in absent_employees:
+            self.assertFalse(employee not in holidays.employee_id)