Lateness and verbal warning

[Pinkginxx]

Looking for an unbiased view, so I'll ask an open question. Over a period of 12 months, how many times would you think an employee has to be late to trigger a verbal warning?

They sought you out, knowing your transport circumstances (including that you’d be getting the first bus in and the last bus home), and presumably knowing that buses are liable to be late, cancelled or otherwise disrupted. To be invoking disciplinary procedures seems harsh to me. Actually, based on what you’ve told us, it seems perverse.

I do budget for a couple of taxi's a month (it's a couple hours wage for the fair ) just incase I oversleep/forget my purse/bus home is cancelled, however by the time I've worked out it's a no show/got 5 miles down the road and it's broken down, by the time I'd get a taxi at rush hour (I live in a city, work in the sticks) I'd still be quite late.
In the interests of transparency there's a couple of times I've been late not because of public transport issues, but these on there own wouldn't have been an issue. Prob twice most. It's the combination of both.
I'll take it on the chin, just a bit meh that as pp said they approached me knowing of potential transport issues which are completely out of my control.

"Pinkginxx

I didn't apply, they approached me knowing of the public transport situation."
I think you're OK then. They wanted you even with unreliable transport. Do you work in a job where being on time is crucial?

I used to work in a customer service role,where we started at 8am prompt. That's when the call lines opened. I drove and it was approx 25 miles away form where I l lived, up the M1. Lateness was extremely frowned upon so I always left at 6.00am arrived early, sat in the car pack at work,with a takeaway coffee that I picked up en route, from 7am waiting for the office to open at 7.30am.

Yes, I was up at crack of dawn but I was always there on time. I saw others dismissed for their regular lateness ( we had to be ready to receive calls at 8am). Some companies and some roles are time specific so you have to be there. Bums on seats. I always allowed myself enough time to get where I needed to be. If I wasn't there it would have meant my colleagues would have had to pick all my calls . Equally, I would have been sacked and I needed the job. Lateness is one of those things where people can be perceived as lazy and/or sticky mattress syndrome. Once in a blue moon, if the beast from the east unleashes a snow storm from hell, then fair enough. If you are relying on buses, you may need to get to the bus stop significantly earlier, allowing yourself time for delays, breakdowns, adverse weather etc. Teachers, fireman, police and ambulance drivers all need to arrive on time. You need to wake up earlier OP and allow more time at the bus stop. Get the earlier bus or if that is not running a combination of walking and the nearest
In service buses that are running at that time to arrive at work on time. Grab a coffee when you arrive at work early and do some family admin while your waiting to start to work.

If this job is difficult for you to arrive at punctually, you may be best off finding something within walking distance of home. What your bosses originally said they would accept is clearly not the reality so you need to either get there in time or find a diff job. It could be that they use this to dismiss you in the future so you need to ensure that you give them no cause for concern. If you need your job in order to live you need to arrive on time.

To be honest, I think that given your transport situation, you’ve got to be red hot on timekeeping and make sure it’s only bus problems that make you late.

She gets the earliest bus if the day so unless she sleeps at work there is not an earlier option.
Knowing this, they offered her the role anyway.

People are always late occasionally where I work. No—one bats an eyelid as we often work later too. Also we’re adults and trusted to do our jobs

Op:.. just seen your most recent post: In the interests of transparency there's a couple of times I've been late not because of public transport issues,

You need to get up earlier OP and you need to be more organised. Perhaps sort your purse out the night before along with your clothing, any DC's clothing, your lunch box, any DC's lunches and set your alarm earlier. You cannot expect your employers to make allowances for your tardiness!!

Totally agree with needing to be shit hot now on having absolutely 0 'avoidable' lateness.
Yes it's the first bus of the day and the only service that goes to where I work, if I ran to another bus stop I'd be waiting for the same bus
I have my own individual caseload and don't deal with the public so it wouldn't affect any colleagues. Once in a blue moon maybe taking a message.
I think it's HR's attitude of 'it's just procedure don't worry about it' - well why do it then? I know they've got to be seen to be treating everyone equally but seriously what's the point?

3
2 would allow for train strikes, unforseen motorway closure etc.

Sorry, in response to someone up the thread, I've been told as long as there's no more instances it'll be removed from my record in 2 months. But I can't guarantee that as my situation is still the same...

If the bus runs to time, do you arrive at work dead on your start time? Or a few mins early?
Equally, do you have to run out of work on the dot of 5 (or whatever time you're contracted to finish) or can you do a few mins extra work until you need to leave in time to get to the bus stop?

1redacted, not a paragon of virtue at all. I cannot be late for work at all regardless of public transport though work will come and get me if there is an issue. My employee is not accepting at all.

I commuted by bus for years, and there was only one bus I could get, that would allow me to reach work on time. I never once missed the bus due to sleeping in/running late because I knew that I had no alternative transport available. A taxi would have cost more than I earned in a day. But there were occasions when there was an accident on the motorway and we were just stuck there for hours, or there were roadworks. It was frustrating enough to have my pay docked for that, I would have been furious if I had had been disciplined too for something that was completely beyond my control. And before someone says, as they will, that people choose to have a long commute, it's not that simple. I lived where I did because it was the closest I could get and still be able to afford to pay for a roof over my head. It's catch 22 for a lot of people. You live further away because you can't afford to live closer, but then your transport options are more limited.

@gazelda it gets me there pretty much bang on time. Ironically when it is running it's usually on time/early but it's a tiny country service with buses that look like they're from the 1970's which is why I suspect they break down all the damn time.
Bus home is more likely to be late, it does a loop of the neighbouring village so I see it go past and know I've got 20 mins so can continue working. So make up lots of '10 minutes' there.
Sorry, can't remember who asked but there's a medical reason why I can't drive (would rather not go into it) plus I live in the city so it's only the commute to work. I work it quite a specialised area so it's difficult to change jobs - but equally they'd struggle to replace me so

is cycling an option?

@greenelephantscarf I've actually never considered cycling! A quick google tells me it would take just under 2 hours. I suspect google thinks I'm fitter than I am

Is there a reason you dont drive? I'm not saying it's the answer but is it something you could consider so that you can say you realise public transport is not reliable and you're looking to change that?

Also have you considered a lift share? Could you offer to pay someone who also works there?

Moped? Relatively cheap and obviously dont need to go through driving lessons?

I worked in an IT company and got caught when the police shut the M4 one morning. 60% of the company were stuck on the M4, but the boss wasn’t. About 50 of us got written warnings when we finally got in.

No idea what the wretched man expected us to do - levitate !

@namechangedtoday15 I have mild dyspraxia, without going into it too much it rules out driving for me.
Unfortunately I'm the only person travelling from my area.

It would have to be pretty bad where I work but that's because we all do a lot of unpaid overtime. We all show up around 9.30 but no one minds if you're a bit late. All depends on their expectations.

How long have you been there?

I think I'd be asking for flexibility with my start time under reasonable adjustments given everything you've said. I can't see how the warning is just procedure if it means you have to not be late for two months and you can't promise that. Surely it will then escalate.

How far away is your workplace from where you live? You said it would take 2 hours to cycle one way so 20-30 miles away?

Depends on the job and the circumstances, but more than once or twice is unreasonable. So OP accepting the warning is reasonable.