To think my manager could have been a bit more understanding?

[Onceandforallitsallfine]

Got a formal warning from my manager for being late to work this morning. All ready to go out the door, DD asks for a quick drink of milk, quickly got her a cup of milk and next minute she pours it all over me causing me to have to get changed again and then be late for work.

My point (and his) is, if you're walking through the door at 9am, you are late. You need to be at your desk at 9am.

Unless you work in a setting where time matters (shops, call centres) this excessive clock watching is just odd. I do wonder if the OP always leaves dead on time and if not, does she get paid overtime for staying longer?

If the OP stays longer and doesn't get overtime then the formal warning for a one off late arrival is overkill.

@Fairenuff

I love the new 'see all OP's posts' function because it saves scrolling through. You can see from the start that the OP hasn't posted again on their thread. Thanks MN!

yes me too @Fairenuff

That's what makes me think she's often a tiny bit late, but not enough to make it worth doing anything regularly. Depending on the kind of work, it can matter a lot and it is annoying for colleagues.

As for clock watching at the end of the day, IME, it's the staff who cut it fine in the mornings who are first out in the evenings too.

I have an excellent staff member who is often a few mins late. I feel like I should "do" something for appearances sake for the other staff but I don't because she's excellent at her job and gets more done in a day that most. There are other staff who I absolutely would take up 15 mins late with.

I love the new 'see all OP's posts' function because it saves scrolling through. You can see from the start that the OP hasn't posted again on their thread. Thanks MN

I do find it so bloody rude when OPs don’t return.

@SharonasCorona

I love the new 'see all OP's posts' function because it saves scrolling through. You can see from the start that the OP hasn't posted again on their thread. Thanks MN

I do find it so bloody rude when OPs don’t return.

but she did start it last night , i guess she is busy this morning

YABU not to give more context.

Is this normal for your workplace? Is being on time essential?

If you were walking out of the door why didn't the person looking after your DD get her drink?

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine I doubt she’ll be back. It happens so often.

I’m client facing. I would never ever want to turn up late, but sometimes it happens. Do you have children? Life happens, to me and senior people I meet it work with. One manager has a motto ‘Family first’ - employee mental health, renter Jon and performance is very high!

Yes, I have kids. One time I was late to work because my car had been broken into the night before and there was glass everywhere. I didn't realise until we were getting into the car. Things like that or a gas explosion has blocked off the roads in town or a car accident means that people will be late. But, I feel "Sorry I'm late, my daughter spilt some milk" isn't really the best of excuses. That sort of minor thing is why I started adding the 15 minutes buffer time. Some days I don't need it so I just sit and chill in my car for a bit, but most days there is something, road works, forgot something, can't find matching socks, that add 5-10 minutes to my morning.

Hmm. In just the few sentences you’ve provided you already sound like a drama queen because it takes you 15 minutes to get changed so maybe the formal warning arose because they’re getting fed up of your drama!

@ParisianLady 15 minutes late due to getting changed is quite a long time. Wouldn't you just grab the nearest clean thing, dump the dirty clothes in the wash basket and run out of the door? It's 4 or 5 mins max

Yes perhaps, for those of you who have a large wardrobe full of multiple pairs of work-appropriate clothes which miraculously, never need to be washed.

[quote Alwaysinpain]**@ParisianLady* 15 minutes late due to getting changed is quite a long time. Wouldn't you just grab the nearest clean thing, dump the dirty clothes in the wash basket and run out of the door? It's 4 or 5 mins max*

Yes perhaps, for those of you who have a large wardrobe full of multiple pairs of work-appropriate clothes which miraculously, never need to be washed. [/quote]
In 15 minutes you couldn't wash and dry an outfit covered in milk. You'd have to pick something else, irrespective of the size of your wardrobe