AIBU to think your start time is your actual start time?

[Katie2001]

Since starting work, many years ago, I've always believed if you start work at 9, you come in at quarter to or just before so you can be ready to start. If you are held up for any reason, or have to drop kids off or whatever of course it's different. Of the two colleagues at work on the same level as me, one starts at 9:30 so comes in at any time between that time and quarter to ten, makes her coffee, eats her breakfast and is ready to actually work about ten or quarter past. The other one starts at 9 but comes in any time between quarter past 9 and quarter to ten. Neither have school age children. Maybe I'm in the one in the wrong?

Boney, I didn't claim that it was the same for everyone. But I do say that, in an office job, fixating on timekeeping is generally counter-productive. I worked in an organisation where, as in Loopy's case, one team was lauded for its fantastic punctuality. But it soon became obvious that they were being praised for their punctuality because that was the only area where they did well. And that was because the team leader obsessed about punctuality and had little or no interest in work quality, customer satisfaction or anything else - so the best people transferred out of that department or left, leaving people who could turn up at 9 on the dot but had few if any other skills.

Margo

I didn't expect to do as much as I have done, as I got more experienced I found better ways to do certain aspects of the job.

But (as you say) with many professions there is still far too much work to fit in a 'normal' working week.

Icimoi

there are places where fixating on punctuality is counter productive, but there are areas where it should be a matter of respect not for the company but for colleagues.

Would you want to sit at a check out for an extra 10 minutes whilst waiting for your hand over to turn up?

I haven't done a runner, my internet is only just back up again after a couple of days down. Really interested to see all your views and I think I'm inclined to unbend a bit in my timekeeping views! Thanks.

Hurray! Life's too short timekeep for others. You can only do it for those on the same level or below you. Would you timekeep for your boss? No, cos you have no power. So let it go.

If you left the machine before you were relieved you would be told off.

As part of my job I do hourly shifts at a public service desk. Years ago, same job, one of my coworkers was constantly 15 minutes late. I complained to my supervisor, not mentioning names, but asking that he remind everyone to be on time for their shifts so whoever they were relieving wouldn't be stuck waiting for the changeover. Supervisor sent an email around reminding everyone not to leave the desk until the person relieving us had arrived, with no reference to actually beginning the shift on time!

Another coworkers was often late for his shift as he didn't wear a watch! Well, get one!

If you're a shift worker and you are handing over to someone else it's bloody selfish and rude to be consistently late. Why should anyone be late off because someone else can't be bothered to turn up on time?

I think it really depends on the job - of its answering phones and dealing with customers timekeeping is critical. If it is less essential that someone be in the office on the end of the line and nothing is majorly urgent and all the actual tasks are done then I wouldn't have too much of an issue with the occasional later start earlier finish. I would have an issue if it was a constant and stuck out like a sore thumb compared to others. My view is always ask first if the company requirements and the work is getting done, be evenhanded in reminders ie if no one ever in the office before 10 then its an issue. I must admit I often assume with london that no one really properly starts before 10.......unless in the "city"...

Ooh this really annoys me, I'm one of the few people at work just now that bothers to turn up before my shift starts so I'm on the shop floor for X o'clock (if it's an afternoon start, not so much of an issue in the mornings because the shop isn't actually open before I arrive). There's nothing worse than having to hang about behind the tills after being on my feet for 8-9 hours because whoever is in for the afternoon has waltzed into the shop at, say, 2pm on the dot when they should actually be ready to start then

Hate clock watchers I do all my work to a high standard and manage my own time effectively. If you have enough time to comment on the time keeping of colleagues that speaks volumes about your productivity to me if I was your manager I would tell you to mind your own business!

chelseabuns2013
"Hate clock watchers I do all my work to a high standard and manage my own time effectively."

So its not a problem for you, that is great. But when you are still in work 15 - 20 minutes after your shift ends and you are still waiting for your hand over (and you are not getting paid) it really is shit.

Chelseabuns - so do I, I also do other peoples work to a high standard before they get in in the morning and after they go home at night.

I completely agree, The working day starts at 9 am, you don't arrive at 9 am then get ready to start work. I had to fire a number of employees over the years for perpetual lateness, I always gave warnings and tried to help but when it comes down to it you are paying these people for their time and if they cannot respect you and their job enough to show up on time then they deserve to loose their job. As an employee I always made sure that I arrived early and that I was at my desk ready to start work Five minutes before 9 And if I was late I always cut time out of my lunch or stayed back to make up the time. If anyone was to need time for prayers that is fine but I would expect them to make up the time taken away from their job either by starting earlier, finishing later or having their pay docked.

Would you want to sit at a check out for an extra 10 minutes whilst waiting for your hand over to turn up?

Seems a pointless question given that it's in response to a post that specifically refers to what happens in office jobs.

InimitableJeeves

As the thread is about poor timekeeping it is pretty much in line with what is/was being discussed.

I haven't checked through every single post, but I'm pretty sure that even the people who are arguing that lateness is acceptable in some office jobs are in agreement that punctuality is important for other jobs where lateness inconveniences colleagues. Such as shift work like in the check out operators example above.

Like others have probably said (i cba to read the whole thread) your start time is your start time if you have to sort of job which necessitates you being on time.

In my job no one (apart from admin staff who work very much 9 to 5) would be criticised for coming in at any time up to about 9.45 or 10 am. We all work many more hours than the standard 37.5 hour working week. Most of us work at least 50 hours a week, and often quite late into the evening as well as giving up evenings for client events, so it would be counterproductive to tell someone off for not being at their desk at 9am.

I have a friend ;) who works in an office. She is one of those people who walk in at start time and while the computer boots, they make themselves a cup of coffee, etc. She says people who are miffed by others being late are simply envious because they'd like to do the same, only don't dare.

She also thinks that if management takes a hard line on this, they'll only get people who go home on the dot; or who spend time frowning at spreadsheets on the screen while daydreaming about their last holiday.