Chronic late to work

[JanaDee]

Well that's not fair to the rest of you! Managers need to do their jobs and that includes discipline.

Look at the post above yours, some managers don't want to do their jobs.

 

[jennylyn_b]

Look at the post above yours, some managers don't want to do their jobs.

Then IMO, they shouldn't be managers lol

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I worked in a Gastroenterologists office for about a year as a nurse and the medical assistant that worked with me came in late EVERY DAY. She never even would call she would just show up 10 or 15 minutes late once I had already gotten there and gotten everything ready for the day.

I tolerated it for about 6 months and had previously made comments to her about showing up on time and she always joked it off. Finally I told the office Director that she and the doctor were going to have to do something about this girl's tardiness. It was pissing me off every day and ruining the mood of the working environment. And we actually ended up having a work meetings with all the assistants and nurses (about 6 ppl total) and it was brought up to her about her tardiness.

She immeditaely tried to lie and say she was hardly ever late and I could not bite my tongue. I told her YOU ARE LATE EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail. At least 10 minutes sometimes 15 or 20 minutes. And when are here working all you do is sit on your (bad word for butt) and don't hardly do any work and let everyone else do it for you. So you can either shape up and bring your lazy (bad word for butt) to work on time and do your fair share or I am going to the doctor myself directly and telling him if he doesn't get rid of you I will be quitting. Who do you think he wants to keep, me or you? And after that she "tried" to show up for work on time.

I cannot stand tardiness of any kind. It is rude and disrespectful of other ppl's time. To have it happen once every 6 months is totally acceptable because sometimes things do happen like the power goes off and resets your alarm clock and it doesn't go off. Although I think most ppl use their cell phones nowadays for an alarm. But to have it on a regular basis is exactly what OP said laziness in actions.

If I were a Director or Supervisor and had someone that was tardy all the time I would let them go very quickly. I would not tolerate it. I wouldn't keep anyone who had an absence problem either. Missing work more than once per quarter is excessive and I would get rid of them too.

 

[manning]

kind of fits into the category of mistakes. We had someone who made lots of mistakes. The excuse was I'm human and humans make mistakes.

The boss said I have no problem with you making a mistake, the problem is the number of mistakes. Therefore I am letting you go.

The boss should tell her he had no problem of her being late. The problem is the number of times, therefore you are terminated.

 

[ReneeA]

I'm probably 5-10 minutes late a couple of days a week, but it's pretty irrelevant as I always stay 15-30 minutes later at the end of the day than I am scheduled for. School support staff is paid for 7 hours (8am-3pm) but there's NEVER enough time at the end of the day, after the kids are gone and the room's straightened up, to plan for the next day and still leave by 3. My co-teacher and I stay as long as we need to, to be ready for the next day, and my boss is thankful that we do, as we do it "unpaid." She'd WAY rather have us 5 minutes late in the morning and stay until the work is done, than show up for the strict seven hours and dump all the unfinished work in her lap (she's salaried).

I sometimes try to analyze why I am late, and I really think I just estimate time poorly. I always think there's enough time to put in a load of laundry, or iron DH's shirt while I am doing mine, or make a second pot of coffee, etc. Of course, there's also traffic in our small, rural town. All three schools are on Main St, and it's also one of two possible ways to get to the University, so going through downtown in the morning (and seriously, it's only one main drag with three feeder streets!) can be congested, especially with 3 crosswalks in the center of town. And then there are the mornings when I spend a couple of minutes watching the turkeys and deer feed, or the bald eagle who is soaring overhead. Oh well… it really is irrelevant, because if I was on time all the time, I'd still have to work extra in the afternoon. However, I don't like being chronically a few minutes late and am trying to be better about it.

I don't want to get too down on you because it seems like you're aware of your issue & wanting to do better. However, you realize that many (most probably) employees that get to work on time also have to stay late frequently to finish up, or get their work done. It's called being a responsible adult, and really is a very poor excuse for being chronically late.

 

[Mkrop]

I worked in a Gastroenterologists office for about a year as a nurse and the medical assistant that worked with me came in late EVERY DAY. She never even would call she would just show up 10 or 15 minutes late once I had already gotten there and gotten everything ready for the day.

I tolerated it for about 6 months and had previously made comments to her about showing up on time and she always joked it off. Finally I told the office Director that she and the doctor were going to have to do something about this girl's tardiness. It was pissing me off every day and ruining the mood of the working environment. And we actually ended up having a work meetings with all the assistants and nurses (about 6 ppl total) and it was brought up to her about her tardiness.

She immeditaely tried to lie and say she was hardly ever late and I could not bite my tongue. I told her YOU ARE LATE EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail. At least 10 minutes sometimes 15 or 20 minutes. And when are here working all you do is sit on your (bad word for butt) and don't hardly do any work and let everyone else do it for you. So you can either shape up and bring your lazy (bad word for butt) to work on time and do your fair share or I am going to the doctor myself directly and telling him if he doesn't get rid of you I will be quitting. Who do you think he wants to keep, me or you? And after that she "tried" to show up for work on time.

I cannot stand tardiness of any kind. It is rude and disrespectful of other ppl's time. To have it happen once every 6 months is totally acceptable because sometimes things do happen like the power goes off and resets your alarm clock and it doesn't go off. Although I think most ppl use their cell phones nowadays for an alarm. But to have it on a regular basis is exactly what OP said laziness in actions.

If I were a Director or Supervisor and had someone that was tardy all the time I would let them go very quickly. I would not tolerate it. I wouldn't keep anyone who had an absence problem either. Missing work more than once per quarter is excessive and I would get rid of them too.

I am not a tardy person ever...but I never use my phone as an alarm, like I tell my DS16, phones stay downstairs and are being charged overnight. We all have radio alarm clocks

 

[Handbag Lady]

It's also a pretty rare chronic late person that actually puts in a solid effort. If you're too disorganized to get to work in time, odds are not good that you have your act together at work either

This is a TOTAL crock of hooey. I'm the habitually late person getting to work. About three days out of 5, I "roll in" at 8:45 am. My hours are supposed to be 8:30 am to 6 pm.

I'm also the same person here until 8 pm or later as needed to do billing for my job because the biller "doesn't know how" and refuses to learn. I run the department of one for me AND I bring in new clients all of the time.

Oh, and I was also the person her Sunday afternoon making sure everyone on the staff would be paid tomorrow because of the short week.

So don't give me that donkeypoo about us late people not putting in a solid effort.

Some reasons why I'm late:

Traffic, too cold to get out of bed, traffic, I'm on the phone with a work call at 7 am and didn't get in the shower on time, my cat was ill, didn't feel like racing into work, carbeque, breakfast meetings off-lot, traffic, I just CAN'T get here exactly at 8:30 am daily and I would be the first person in anyway...

Also, my company has a policy whereas you can get written up if you are caught talking/texting on your phone for business while driving. I'll often pull over on my way in to take a call.

 

[scrapquitler]

Anyone have one of these people at work? I have a PT gig and the administrative assistant is constantly late. Of the 3 days a week I work she calls at 9am for at least TWO of them in a "panic", stammering apologies about how she overslept/clock never went off/traffic is backed up (in our insanely rural town??), and will be in 20 minutes. It was kind of funny at first but I've been here for a year now and it's lost its funny.

Today was a winner. I came in to open the office and NOBODY else was here. There are always two of us to open up at 8:30. With the weather as nasty as it is in the east today I thought maybe they had issued a delayed opening or a closure and forgotten to call me. I had left work early yesterday because I was sick, and today I actually feel worse but i had a nagging feeling I needed to be here. So I dragged myself in. Thank goodness I did because all the other people who normally work with me are on vacation or had asked the day off...except the administrative assistant. Well she calls at 9am (we are supposed to be in at 8:30) with the faux panic "I'm so sorry I'm so sorry blah blah blah!". And when she comes in, at 9:15 she comes running up to me "OMG I thought you were going to be staying home sick today! Thank goodness you were here!"

I told her I almost did call in, until my spidey sense kicked in, and that I was still sick (upper resp). The other person working today came in at 9...and she just got over pnuemonia two weeks ago. So when the boss comes into the office and gives Ms. Alwayslate the long hairy eye, the AA grabs me and the other employee and tells the boss "We're sick...all THREE of us (fake cough), and we still came in!"

Ick. She's off my Christmas card list LOL. I guess it's really the boss's fault for not nipping it in the bud. I just hate people's laziness in action. She has NO children, no other job (this is my second job. I work full-time outside of this)...no health issues. No reason for the chronic lateness other than she is a space cadet, scatterbrained and disorganized.

So who else has one of these gems in their office?

We had one. She got fired for chronic lateness and calling out sick excessively. None of us were sorry to see her go.

At my job, there is a set progressive discipline policy for things like this which is spelled out in black and white, so there is no question. You are 'allowed' to be late once a month without anything happening, but if you are late more than that, you get discipline action: verbal warning, written warning, one day suspension, etc. It stays on your record for six months and the discipline accumulates.

The supervisor/manager/boss needs to address this because it's not fair for him, the other employees or the customers. If the manager tolerates it, it's a sign of a bad manager, in my opinon.

 

[scrapquitler]

I never minded people who were late as long as they got their work done. If they were behind or unproductive, we would talk and their lateness would be included. Come in late, work late or do your share and more...no problem that you are late.

I think this totally depends on the type of job that you have. With my job, I am scheduled a certain shift, and then someone is supposed to come in and relieve me so I can go home. I can't just leave at the end of my shift (because there are only 1 or 2 people on our job site) if my coworker is late or no-show...I am stuck sitting there waiting for her to come in. No option, no choice. One 4th of July I worked 3-11 PM. My coworker was supposed to come in 11PM-8:30 AM that night...and she NEVER showed. When I called her, she stated that she 'forgot' she was supposed to work, had been at a party and couldn't come in because she had been drinking. So I had to stay and work the extra shift. If she were an hour late, I would have had to stay that hour. No option. So if my co-worker is late, it DOES matter to me me. A lot.

 

[Gracie09]

I can't stand lateness. At my last job, I fired a union employee (took over eight months to do it) because she was chronically late. One month she was late 20 out of 22 work days. Even her union rep said I've got nothing that can defend that. She had depression issues that made it hard to sleep but was working a second job at hooters until 2 am most nights.
Last I hears she had a new job and I'm sure she's doing the same thing to them.

 

[Ephany]

I was told to expect to have to pick up extra hours next month because there's a really, really good chance one of my co-workers will be suspended for a week without pay. She's been late 14 times this period, at 16, you're suspended. Problem is that a) you have to be late 16 times before you're punished and b) she doesn't really care. She's quite aware that the time clock doesn't mark you late until 4 minutes after you're scheduled, so for her, 3 minutes late is on time. Her lunch breaks usually last longer than an hour, which sucks because the next person can't go to lunch until she gets back.

 

[leebee]

I don't want to get too down on you because it seems like you're aware of your issue & wanting to do better. However, you realize that many (most probably) employees that get to work on time also have to stay late frequently to finish up, or get their work done. It's called being a responsible adult, and really is a very poor excuse for being chronically late.

We work hourly, and there's no overtime, so any time we work more than 7 hours a day, we are unpaid. Actually, the 8-3 hours are pretty arbitrary, but that's what we report to the business office because it makes the bookkeeping easier. (I know the middle school crew works 8:15-3:15 but also reports their hours as 8-3.) We don't see kids until 8:30, and my last class ends at 2:35 and then I have hall duty from 2:40 until 3 (or until the busses leave… it's probably later than 3 at least once a week). I'd rather stay late to do planning for the next day so I have time to finish it all rather than try to get if finished in that half-hour in the morning. Often in the morning there isn't time to get all the photocopying, etc., done before students arrive at 8:30. HOWEVER… it bothers me if I am not there at 8, as this is what we officially report, so I am trying to be better about it. I just have to stop trying to squeeze in little things in the morning and just get ready for work!

 

[tvguy]

Co-workers oversleeping has been just part of the job the past 33 years for me. My work day has started somewhere between 11 pm and 3 am that entire time. With 14 of us on the shift, one person a week oversleeps and needs a wake up call.

But with people replacing their alarm clocks with their cell phones, and their landlines with cell phones, it has gotten worse. And when the cell phone is both their only phone and their alarm clock, when the cell phone fails, you not only don't wake up on time, there is no way to reach you.
That is why I still have my $6 battery alarm clock and my landline.

 

[lauradis]

Yep we have one of those always late. The problem is durning slow season we sometimes have single coverage that means when miss rude is 15-30 mins late I can't leave for 45 mins after my shift is to end 15 min lap overs.

Since I'm the fill in girl. I told her she can't be late the days I file in before her. I text her on those days wouldn't you know it the first time she was almost 1 hr late excuse was dog threw up. She lives less then 5 min car ride from work.

Next time I don't remember what the excuse was.

Their wasn't next time, because I told her boss he fixes it or I can't save his bacon and fill in when she works after me.

Guess what it's been 4 years and she has only been late once after first two times. But only when I work before her, everyone else she is late for.

Don't even get me started on how she can't finish her paperwork till after hr after hr shift is over.

 

[ronandannette]

It's also a pretty rare chronic late person that actually puts in a solid effort. If you're too disorganized to get to work in time, odds are not good that you have your act together at work either

I must say I disagree...I am "that" person who often comes in 10 or 15 minutes late as do many, many of my staff and co-workers. We live in a place with transportation infrastructure issues coupled with a miserable climate 7 months if the year. We have about 40 employees working in our office and on any given "bad" winter day 2/3 of them can be hung up on the same 3 possible routes in. The office officially opens at 8:00 and someone is always here by that time, it is not a public facility nor do we directly address the public very often and we all work fairly independently of one another. It's seldom anyone is ever actually "waiting" for anybody else. Meetings are NEVER scheduled for first thing in the morning in order to ensure prompt attendance.

We are all salaried employees with specific mandates. Many do not take lunch hour and there's plenty of overtime worked when necessary. The place runs perfectly well and in 8 years I can't think of more than maybe one or two who ever really took advantage. The latitude is also acknowledged and appreciated by all of us...one less "stressor" in an environment that's already tough enough.

 

[eliza61]

I must say I disagree...I am "that" person who often comes in 10 or 15 minutes late as do many, many of my staff and co-workers. We live in a place with transportation infrastructure issues coupled with a miserable climate 7 months if the year. We have about 40 employees working in our office and on any given "bad" winter day 2/3 of them can be hung up on the same 3 possible routes in. The office officially opens at 8:00 and someone is always here by that time, it is not a public facility nor do we directly address the public very often and we all work fairly independently of one another. It's seldom anyone is ever actually "waiting" for anybody else. Meetings are NEVER scheduled for first thing in the morning in order to ensure prompt attwndance.

We are all salaried employees with specific mandates. Many do not take lunch hour and there's plenty of overtime worked when necessary. The place runs perfectly well and in 8 years I can't think of more than maybe one or two who ever really took advantage. The latitude is also acknowledged and appreciated by all of us...one less "stressor" in an environment that's already tough enough.

See, rondatta you lost me on your first line. You knowingly say you are always 10-15 minutes late for 8 yeas? Translation: You could care less. If you are habitually late, how about this, start your routine 30 minutes earlier to adjust for all these "circumstances".

You would feel put out if you organization started docking your pay by15 minutes, now you're salaried as are we but at my job chronically 15 minutes late tells us a number of things.
1) unorganized. you can't get your schedule together to get here on time
2) disinterest.

Now remember we are not talking about the occasional traffic is horrible or the weather is horrible. If you are telling me for 8 years you still can't manage to get to work on time consistently. then yes, I do think that says alot about your work ethic.

lastly, so how far can a person take it. why is 15 mins ok but not 45 minutes?
and if you know you live in a "bad" weather area wouldn't that mean you make adjustments accordingly. Today on the East coast, we are having a major storm right at the busiest travel holiday. My son is flying in from school. I do not expect the plane to wait 15 minutes for him if he's running late. I know the weather 3 days ago so I'm making sure he's at the airport 3 hours early.

Same with work, I drive 42 miles to work. the roads are wet and it is raining. I'll leave 20 minutes early and check the traffic report.

 

[maddiebee]

We have the exact same thing and she HAS been talked to about it, but now our manager is out on maternity leave and the boss comes in at least an hour after everyone else, so it just goes unnoticed by anyone who should say something. I HATE lateness and everyone else who works here gets here at least 10 minutes before we open so we have time to actually open everything up. She works the front desk and its her responsibility to open and set up the front. She is always at least a couple minutes late and will say things like "the train was too full! The train doors weren't working".
UUUGH.

Thanks for this thread. I needed to vent to someone about it!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is a TOTAL crock of hooey. I'm the habitually late person getting to work. About three days out of 5, I "roll in" at 8:45 am. My hours are supposed to be 8:30 am to 6 pm.

I'm also the same person here until 8 pm or later as needed to do billing for my job because the biller "doesn't know how" and refuses to learn. I run the department of one for me AND I bring in new clients all of the time.

Oh, and I was also the person her Sunday afternoon making sure everyone on the staff would be paid tomorrow because of the short week.

So don't give me that donkeypoo about us late people not putting in a solid effort.

Some reasons why I'm late:

Traffic, too cold to get out of bed, traffic, I'm on the phone with a work call at 7 am and didn't get in the shower on time, my cat was ill, didn't feel like racing into work, carbeque, breakfast meetings off-lot, traffic, I just CAN'T get here exactly at 8:30 am daily and I would be the first person in anyway...

Also, my company has a policy whereas you can get written up if you are caught talking/texting on your phone for business while driving. I'll often pull over on my way in to take a call.

I'm sure most chronically late people view themselves that way. Most of them are quite incorrect.

 

[maddiebee]

See, rondatta you lost me on your first line. You knowingly say you are always 10-15 minutes late for 8 yeas? Translation: You could care less. If you are habitually late, how about this, start your routine 30 minutes earlier to adjust for all these "circumstances". You would feel put out if you organization started docking your pay by15 minutes, now you're salaried as are we but at my job chronically 15 minutes late tells us a number of things. 1) unorganized. you can't get your schedule together to get here on time 2) disinterest. Now remember we are not talking about the occasional traffic is horrible or the weather is horrible. If you are telling me for 8 years you still can't manage to get to work on time consistently. then yes, I do think that says alot about your work ethic. lastly, so how far can a person take it. why is 15 mins ok but not 45 minutes? and if you know you live in a "bad" weather area wouldn't that mean you make adjustments accordingly. Today on the East coast, we are having a major storm right at the busiest travel holiday. My son is flying in from school. I do not expect the plane to wait 15 minutes for him if he's running late. I know the weather 3 days ago so I'm making sure he's at the airport 3 hours early. Same with work, I drive 42 miles to work. the roads are wet and it is raining. I'll leave 20 minutes early and check the traffic report.

I completely agree. Regardless of if I'm taking public transport or driving, I give myself tons of extra time because I live in Boston and if you don't give yourself that time, something WILL hold you up. You can never rely on how long it will take to get somewhere in the city. Plus, if I'm super early I can go grab a coffee.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

See, rondatta you lost me on your first line. You knowingly say you are always 10-15 minutes late for 8 yeas? Translation: You could care less. If you are habitually late, how about this, start your routine 30 minutes earlier to adjust for all these "circumstances".

You would feel put out if you organization started docking your pay by15 minutes, now you're salaried as are we but at my job chronically 15 minutes late tells us a number of things.
1) unorganized. you can't get your schedule together to get here on time
2) disinterest.

Now remember we are not talking about the occasional traffic is horrible or the weather is horrible. If you are telling me for 8 years you still can't manage to get to work on time consistently. then yes, I do think that says alot about your work ethic.

lastly, so how far can a person take it. why is 15 mins ok but not 45 minutes?
and if you know you live in a "bad" weather area wouldn't that mean you make adjustments accordingly. Today on the East coast, we are having a major storm right at the busiest travel holiday. My son is flying in from school. I do not expect the plane to wait 15 minutes for him if he's running late. I know the weather 3 days ago so I'm making sure he's at the airport 3 hours early.

Same with work, I drive 42 miles to work. the roads are wet and it is raining. I'll leave 20 minutes early and check the traffic report.

I often find the people who travel the furthest to work are NOT the chronically late people.

Sort of invalidated everyone else's excuses pretty quickly.

Now granted, traffic can indeed get messed up WAY worse than "normal" and make everyone late. But if its a regular occurance, the problem is not traffic. The problem is you're leaving later than you should.