Chronic late to work

[LSmith]

I'm assuming from both of your posts that you must not live in a major city. Here in Chicago and in NYC, the majority of people get to work by public transportation, biking, or as I do, walking. I do take the blueline too, if the weather is bad.

I'm never late, I'm up early enough to still arrive on time even if there is an L-train delay. Worst case scenario, I grab a cab.

Now what you are talking about are job specific requirements. You NEED a car to go to different offices during the day or after hours, I'm equating that to you need a bike to be a bike messenger.

The original post is talking apples, you are talking oranges.

I agree. Whether or not you drive to work or take public transportation has absolutely nothing to do with tardiness. If you are giving applicants a job based on that, well good luck. Based on that requirement, Firedancer would have hired Handbag Lady.

 

[ronandannette]

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.

Point #1 - when and/or if it ever became an issue for my management I certainly would; until that point I'll continue to conform to the corporate culture in a way that satisfies all of us.

Point #2 -

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'm on occasion 5 minutes late. It's not daily but perhaps one day a week in the winter. I work in a 2 person office and the other person always like to leave early as she comes in before we are suppose to. I'm ok with that as long as she's ok with me being 5 minutes late once in a while
It's the winter I'm more often late due to roads, boots, jackets, etc..
And it's not me but the kids! I have to drop them off at the before program and sometime they are cranky, fighting, can't find their mitts, etc. We have had many discussions about making mom late for work. I hate starting the morning yelling at a cranky kid but happens at least once a week.

 

[monarchsfan16]

The chronically late thing annoys me. I live 40 miles from work (farthest of any of the employees at one of the schools I work at) and I have been late ONCE. Why was I late? The highway I was on closed while I was on it because of black ice. It was the first time in the years I had been driving that the highway ever closed. After all, it is NH. Black ice is routine. And by closed, I mean we couldn't even get off the highway to find another route. So my 45 minute commute took 2 1/2 hours. I generally leave my house an hour and a half before I need to be at work. So that day I was late. And I was in constant contact with the school, where they were perfectly accepting of the situation because it doesn't usually happen.

What kills me is that I live the farthest away of any of my colleagues, and yet I get to work before 95% of my colleagues. In fact, the chronically late are the ones that live within 5-10 miles of the school. All of us who have lengthy commutes are typically there early (barring major issues). If we can get there early, why can't the ones living 5 minutes away get there on time?

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm on occasion 5 minutes late. It's not daily but perhaps one day a week in the winter. I work in a 2 person office and the other person always like to leave early as she comes in before we are suppose to. I'm ok with that as long as she's ok with me being 5 minutes late once in a while
It's the winter I'm more often late due to roads, boots, jackets, etc..
And it's not me but the kids! I have to drop them off at the before program and sometime they are cranky, fighting, can't find their mitts, etc. We have had many discussions about making mom late for work. I hate starting the morning yelling at a cranky kid but happens at least once a week.

Just a thought, but maybe have the kids organize their hats, mittens, etc before they go to bed. That way, everything is out and ready for them in the AM. That's what we do and it works great.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Just a thought, but maybe have the kids organize their hats, mittens, etc before they go to bed. That way, everything is out and ready for them in the AM. That's what we do and it works great.

Usually we do but sometiimes things just do go as planned when you're dealing with kids. Especially cranky ones at 7:30 in the morning.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I agree. Whether or not you drive to work or take public transportation has absolutely nothing to do with tardiness. If you are giving applicants a job based on that, well good luck. Based on that requirement, Firedancer would have hired Handbag Lady.

It really is location specific, but it's one of the questions I've seen on every application I've ever filled out. And it's one of the first things I ask any potential applicant. No car = no reliable way to be here when I need you, so no job.

 

[CaliBear]

Getting to work right on the hour would amount to an unpaid 50 minutes for me. I do it when there's a need, but if that was my expected daily schedule, I'd find a different job.

I don't see it this way. Where I live, everyone takes public transportation to work. Taking a car would delay one even more due to lack of parking. But most people arrive to work 30 minutes to an hour early because it is just too risky to take a later train or bus. Grab a cab if you miss the earlier connection.

BUT who sees it as "unpaid" hour? I don't think anyone does. What can you do with that hour? Grab some coffee or a snack, read a book, check your email, read the paper, text your friends, play a game on your phone, post on the DIS. I could keep going. It's not like you have to go start working just because you arrive early. Find a way to enjoy those 50 minutes and it won't seem like unpaid time. In fact, I find that I feel more relaxed going in after having that free time in the morning.

 

[goofyintoronto]

It really is location specific, but it's one of the questions I've seen on every application I've ever filled out. And it's one of the first things I ask any potential applicant. No car = no reliable way to be here when I need you, so no job.

Yep. Agree. Its not an unusual question. Of course it depends on the job and where you live.

 

[Piper]

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at 12, Lupus at 23 and born with Neurofibromatosis, type I (which causes tumors on nerves and scoliosis/lordosis among other things.) I have always had difficulty moving in the mornings. I have also learned to compensate by getting up earlier. I know it will "take a while to get going" so I anticipate that. I was never late to work--in fact, I was usually one of the first ones there.

I knew that I wore out easily and would be ready to leave at the end of the day. I was taught that to be late showed a total disregard of others. I prepared clothes, lunches, etc before I went to bed. Then I had less stress in the morning. If I could be on time, anyone should be able to do the same!

 

[Mkrop]

Why is everyone giving Firedancer a hard time about this...on the teens getting jobs threads we have had here in the past, they say this is a common question asked of teens, and that employers prefer teens that drive and have a means to get there.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Why is everyone giving Firedancer a hard time about this...on the teens getting jobs threads we have had here in the past, they say this is a common question asked of teens, and that employers prefer teens that drive and have a means to get there.

And I think that is wrong for teem applicants too (for normal jobs with hours that are scheduled a little ahead and going to a set location--not what FD described later on, making emergency runs to off site locations--which really has nothing to do with being chronically late).

An employer has a right to demand that a person arrive on time and regularly. Whether that person arrives on foot, by car, by bike or by bus should really not be the employer's concern.

Likewise, if a parent of a young child applied for a job, I feel it appropriate to ask if they can work the hours needed, but not right for the employer to inquire as to what type of childcare (nanny or daycare or at home spouse, etc) the person has arranged for.

 

[okeydokey]

Why is everyone giving Firedancer a hard time about this...on the teens getting jobs threads we have had here in the past, they say this is a common question asked of teens, and that employers prefer teens that drive and have a means to get there.

As long as the person can get to work on time, they should not be judged on the means they use to get there. My teen is about to begin her job search. She does not have a car of her own an we can't afford to get her one. She is looking at places within bike distance. She is very reliable. To say she should never be hired is unfair and short sighted.

 

[NHdisneylover]

As long as the person can get to work on time, they should not be judged on the means they use to get there. My teen is about to begin her job search. She does not have a car of her own an we can't afford to get her one. She is looking at places within bike distance. She is very reliable. To say she should never be hired is unfair and short sighted.

and, realistically, a bike is LESS likely to break down or get caught in traffic than a car--so if anything it would mean she is LESS likely to be late than a teen with a car (especially a cheaper/older car which might be more common for a teen to have if they have one at all)

 

[Jennasis]

and, realistically, a bike is LESS likely to break down or get caught in traffic than a car--so if anything it would mean she is LESS likely to be late than a teen with a car (especially a cheaper/older car which might be more common for a teen to have if they have one at all)

What about bad weather?

 

[NHdisneylover]

What about bad weather?

You wear rain pants over your clothes? Or bundle up?

I used to work at a daycare with a sliding scale. One single mom was arriving as I was (to open) every day, with her VERY well bundled little girl, o na bike, in all weather conditions.
An in Germany? yeah, they ride bikes as normal transit in all weather--yes you see more people out in nice weather, but you see a fair number out in bad weather too--it is how you get to work. And, of course, you could always choose to leave earlier and walk (easier to use an umbrella that way).

 

[njmom47]

I used to be late to work when my youngest was still in grammar school. His bus didn't come until 8:05 and I had to be at work at 8:30. With 3 schools on my route to work, I was usually behind buses and was late just about every day (5-10 mins). I got my work done though.

These days, I am the first one in my office. Like a PP stated, I go in, turn on machines, Lysol the office, etc. I am there 15 minutes or more before I punch in. There are plenty of people I work with who are late just about every day. Then they go get their coffee, stopping to talk to a couple of people on the way, hit the ladies room, etc. THAT is frustrating! Our bosses are usually late too. But since we punch and bosses sign in......

And in NJ lots of people take the train or the bus to work in NYC. I can't imagine those people are never late to work either. But it's going to happen when you take public transportation.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

And I think that is wrong for teem applicants too (for normal jobs with hours that are scheduled a little ahead and going to a set location--not what FD described later on, making emergency runs to off site locations--which really has nothing to do with being chronically late).

An employer has a right to demand that a person arrive on time and regularly. Whether that person arrives on foot, by car, by bike or by bus should really not be the employer's concern.

Likewise, if a parent of a young child applied for a job, I feel it appropriate to ask if they can work the hours needed, but not right for the employer to inquire as to what type of childcare (nanny or daycare or at home spouse, etc) the person has arranged for.

Obviously though, all things being equal, someone with their own car has access to all the same transportation options as someone without a car - PLUS they have the car. In the end, that makes them more likely to be able to arrive when needed.

BTW, I can ask about transportation, but can't ask questions about kids in interviews (somehow, it always comes up though).

 

[Mkrop]

As long as the person can get to work on time, they should not be judged on the means they use to get there. My teen is about to begin her job search. She does not have a car of her own an we can't afford to get her one. She is looking at places within bike distance. She is very reliable. To say she should never be hired is unfair and short sighted.

I agree that a teen should not be asked, DS16 was not asked in his recent job interview. He got the job. If he works after school he can walk across the street, on the weekends we drive him as he only has a permit. But I remember reading the threads about teen jobs and people defending the employer for not hiring those that did not drive yet.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I remember at one point taking the first bus I could and getting to work 90 min early