We play every other Wednesday. You don't make it you miss it. But barely ever has anyone missed it for a bit over 2 years now.
When our party was three or four players, the GM said he'd run a session as long as there were two or three, respectively. We went to a fifth and as long as there's three players, the DM runs the session. I've since gone ahead and implemented the same rule with the group I GM. I think it's better for everyone. People who want to play still get to play, the people who can't make it don't feel bad because their absence cancels the game/don't feel obligated to play if they don't want to.
One of my players struggles with depression. Taking the pressure off in a similar way helps his overall health status. (Not feeling bad for missing when he feels bad already)
Our way: the group without him is running another round in a different setting with one of the players as DM. So if we hear he won't come, we just switch seats and character sheets.
I feel all characters that could have made it should get some sort of boon on missed sessions.
We play every other Wednesday. You don't make it you miss it. But barely ever has anyone missed it for a bit over 2 years now.