How often are you late to work?

[NMAmy]

At the grocery store yesterday, the clerk was complaining to a co-worker that she'd gotten a written reprimand for being late. The co-worker asked how many times she'd been late and she replied, "Well, five times in the last month and I've called in sick four times." She also mentioned that she'd been over a half hour late each time. I was thinking, "Honey, if you worked for me, you'd have been written up and fired by now." Besides the fact that I hate when cashiers in a store have this kind of conversation in front of customers.

I am usually early and only very rarely late. Oddly enough, the first time I've been late in more than a year was last Thursday. We had freezing rain so I took the bus in because the roads were bad. On my way out of the house to catch the bus, I slipped and fell in the driveway. Besides bruising the heck out of my knee, I was just soaking wet. So, I went in the house, bandaged my knee, changed my clothes and caught the next bus. I was a half hour late but I'd called once the office opened to let them know I was on my way. Since I work overtime each week, it wasn't a big deal. The people that work for me are the same way--only late if something really unforseen happens.

So how often are you late for work?

 

[Bob Slydell]

We're salary, so our schedule's are pretty flexible. I'm usually in early, though, so I can leave a little early.

 

[Rhonda922]

I'm always early when coming in to work. I usually like to have my breakfast at my desk and read the paper so I like to be in at least 15 - 20 minutes early to allow for that. If I know that I'm going to be late, I would call in and let my boss know.

I totally agree with your response about the grocery store clerk.

 

[kdibattista]

Always early... I have to be. If I'm late, my clients are late and then my schedule is shot for the day. When I worked in a corporate setting I was late maybe two or three times over several years but it was due to either car problems or weather problems. Honestly, I would rather call out then be late.

 

[pozey]

Well, I am a salaried employee, so I don't clock in or out or anything like that. We have somewhat "flexible" hours, and pretty much all that is expected is that we work 40 hours a week.

That being said, I am a "normal routine" kind of guy. I have pretty much the same routine day in and day out. I get to work at pretty much the same time each and every day - right at 7:30. The most it will vary is about 5 minutes either way.

There is one set of railroad tracks along the way to take my boys to school. There have been a few times that we have been caught by the train, and that will make me about 10 minutes late.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I'm salaried (as are most of my coworkers), so my worktime is flexible. Our office opens at 8:00 and I am usually here by then. Some days I may be like 5 minutes late because I go the gym before work and if there are too many other girls getting ready at the same time it can hold me up. I also work through lunch a couple times a week and I do work late at least one night a week, so I more than make up for that 5 minutes. We have others that don't show up until 8:30 and nobody really cares. It all gets made up in the end.

 

[jbdreamer]

I am usually a very punctual person. I hate being late for anything.

But I am never too time conscious in the morning with my job. I work on a salary, and can come in anywhere between 8-9. If I show up at 9:10 no one is going to care, I'll just stay a little later. I love not having to be rushed in the morning.

But sick four times in a month!? I call in sick maybe once or twice a year.

During the holiday season we have temps, and a lot of them call in sick once a week. I just don't get that.

 

[mickeyboat]

I am salaried, too, but I am never late! People depend on me to be here by 8:00, and there is really no reason why I can't be here by then. I can't remember the last time I was late.

Our receptionist has trouble sometimes getting here on time. No kids, no husband, no committments, but still can't get here on time. What's up with that?

Denae

 

[mainewmn]

Our whole office is salary but I’m very much a creature of habits. I get up at the same time, have the same routine every day and arrive around the same time to work every day which is about 5 minutes or so before I’m suppose to be here. On the off days when I’m running late I call the office to let them know what’s happened to me.

And I wanted to add I also dislike when the store employees have these discussion in front of me at the store.

 

[chesirechik]

I work in an office with all salaried people and it amazes me how much some people take advantage of the "flex" time by coming in 30-45 minutes late. No one ever says anything.

I'm only late if something unusual happens like bad weather.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I work in an office with all salaried people and it amazes me how much some people take advantage of the "flex" time by coming in 30-45 minutes late. No one ever says anything.

Do they usually stay later?

My boss is usually in later than many, but then again, she's here until 7-8pm many nights.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I am salaried so as long as I make up the lateness, no one really cares.

But I am usually never late. If I am it is only by 5 minutes because I got stuck at the train crossing. Only on Friday was I 10 minutes late but that was because it was a horrible, icy morning and I got stuck behind every school bus and idiot possible. (Big rant there for another time. )

When I worked in retail most of the girls would come in late. Like 30-40 minutes late. I don't get it. How can you do that? You come in to relieve another employee. So when you are late you are making that person stay late. I hated it. Especially since it happened to me more often than not and I would have to stay to cover for them even if I had to leave for something important. It is inconsiderate and rude. Unless you are on your deathbed, calling out sick 4 times in 1 month is ridiculous. I too hate when employees have conversations like that in front of customers. It makes me (the customer) feel very awkward.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Never. They basically want us here somewhere between 6 and 9. I'm salaried so it really doesn't matter. Get your work done it what matters.

That being said, I'm never late. It's an issue for me. Promptness is a virture. I've actually selected one candidate over another due to the fact they were equally qualified, but one was late for the interview.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I am almost NEVER late for work and I have only been sick once in the past 2 years.

Most mornings I go in about 15-20 minutes early because after I drop DS off at school there isn't anything else for me to do. If DH takes DS to school I will leave the house a bit later and arrive at work on time or maybe 5 minutes early.

I did have a flat one morning so I had to go to the service station and have it fixed, but even then I was only about 15 minutes late.

DH worked in grocery for 17 years and they NEVER fired anybody for being late or not showing up. Stealing, yes. Chronic tardiness and/or absenteeism, no. No wonder the cashier thinks it is OK to be late or call in sick all the time - nothing ever HAPPENS to people that do that!

 

[LindaR]

This is a major pet peeve of mine! I have never been late. I am an "early" person, so even if something happened to delay me, I'd still "be on time". I was raised in a military family and was in the Air Force myself. They pound into you to show up for all appointments 15 minutes early. I actually initiated an Article 15 (punishment) for a couple of airmen who consistently arrived for duty late.

I despise lateness. If your work day starts at 8am, you don't show up at 8 then go to the bathroom, check email and get a cup of coffee. You come in a little early to get all that stuff done and actually start WORKING at 8am.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I am neurotic about being late, so I arrive early for everything. However, at work I strive to be flexible with staff because we do have flex time. Someone has to really abuse the privilege (late several times in a month) for me to say anything. I've written up one person once, but since then she's been fairly punctual.

 

[Disney Doll]

As a nurse, I am paid hourly, so if I am late, my paycheck refelcts that. If something were to happen on the way to work (flat tire, accidfent etc.) I would call my unit and let them know I was on my way but late ue to whatever. That being said, if you are consistently late, eventually there will be consequences. When I worked in the corporate world, I wasn't usually late, and they were of the mindset to get the work done and be here about 40 hours per week,. If you arrived 10 minutes late, somewhere along the way you were going to be staying 10 minutes late to finish something up, so it all evened out.

I hate tardiness. I think people who are always late are rude and disrepcetful, as if their time is more important than mine. I think it's subconsciously a control issue...you know "look at me, I can control everyone's life by making them wait for me" or "you're not going to tell me what time I have to be somewhere...I'll get there when I want to".

I have been known to leave without someone I was waiting for if they kept me waiting for more than a few minutes, especially if I know its someone who is always late. It's one thing if they are normally a prompt person and they are late...I'll wait because I assume that something went wrong because lateness is out of character for them. But if it is one of my friends who is always late, you have a couple of minutes then the party starts without you. And don't even think of being pissed at me when you do arrive!

 

[Shelby5514]

I am late to work almost every day...I know that sounds bad but this is why. I am scheduled 37.5 hours a week. If I stay over a 1/2 hour one day, I have to cut 1/2 hour another day. It is easier for me to come in 5-10 minutes late everyday, when no-one else is there, than to leave 1/2 hr early when we're busy. I've had 3 different bosses and none of them have ever had a problem with it, probably because I usually have everything done before anyone comes in.

 

[Maleficent13]

I think it's subconsciously a control issue...you know "look at me, I can control everyone's life by making them wait for me" or "you're not going to tell me what time I have to be somewhere...I'll get there when I want to".

I hear this a lot, and I never understood it. Quite frankly, no one at my job give a hoot if I'm early, late, or on time. I'm not making any one wait if I'm 10 minutes behind. And if I do happen to be late, it isn't because I have some bizarre need to control everyone...I just had stuff happen.

To answer the OP, I used to be late more often than I'm proud of, by about 10-15 minutes after start time, but I was always here 30-45 minutes after close. I'm salaried anyway. But now I run on baby time, and she's an early bird, so I'm usually 15-20 minutes early to work.

 

[eyeoreismyhero]

I'm salaried and am usually in by 7:30 so that I can get out by 5 - 5:15 every day. It's amazing to watch how other employees who are hourly are in 10 minutes early every and if they switch to salary suddenly start coming in 10 minutes late!