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Original poster

Employee consistently late

110 replies

lou7575 · 18/03/2022 09:42

Male employee consistently late by 5-10 minutes nearly everyday. The excuse is about getting the children ready for school etc...he has 4 children between 1 and 9 years so I understand this is probably very hectic however his wife doesn't work, never has, and is a stay at home mum and does the school run etc normally. Other employees have commented as everyone else manages to get here on time. Myself and other manager have mentioned this to the employee however he really doesn't seem to care. Not sure if we are being unreasonable by giving written warning etc but we have tried to be understanding of the situation. Any advice or past experience in similar situations?

OP posts:
ILoveAllRainbowsx · 18/03/2022 10:33

Some people are like that. My old next door neighbour worked in an office when he was in his 20s and he was like this. He just couldn't see what the problem was.

He is now a gardener so it doesn't matter. Some people should not work in a job where timekeeping is important.

Iamkmackered1979 · 18/03/2022 10:37

Have you spoken to him about it? Actually talked to the man? Perhaps his wife is struggling or one of his children has additional needs or maybe he’s just a late person but only way to find out is to have a chat about things.

I have four kids on my own and manage to be on time and mostly early as 4 kids means you have to be very organised. Means I’m always quite tired mind you it’s a busy house, but I have responsibilities to my job too. I think if he’s late he needs to stay to make up the 15 mins or whatever it is.

Gonnagetgoing · 18/03/2022 10:37

In that case, if he's consistently late you need to have a word as he's depriving the company of almost 4 hours a month (at most) which is equal to half a day.

When I was younger (and more lax) and got in late I was spoken to about it and had to make up the time.

WeeOrcadian · 18/03/2022 10:38

The issue isn't just that he's consistently late - he isn't making back the time he's missing, he's taking regular personal calls during work time and other people have noticed - rightly so, it isn't fair.

Having worked in the private sector, I wouldn't have lasted a month if I acted like that, I'd have been out on my ear. I currently work for NHS but even so, my manager wouldn't accept me walking in late all the time, it's unprofessional for starters, leave alone the (paid!) time he isn't working.

Gonnagetgoing · 18/03/2022 10:39

[quote lou7575]@Franca123 when customers may be waiting to speak to him etc or colleagues are working on jobs together then yes it does. His wife will often FaceTime/ring him several times during the day too, not just at lunch break etc. [/quote]
@lou7575 - you should have a 'put your mobile phone away' rule. But not just for him.

Gonnagetgoing · 18/03/2022 10:40

If his wife is really unable to get the children ready and to school then he needs to look into another option to get help for this.

PearlclutchersInc · 18/03/2022 10:41

Sounds like one of my co-workers. His wife is not coping at all well and he picks up the slack. From the outside looking in she's needy and clingy but her MH is not good at all.

Before you get all cat-arse mouthed about it suggest you look at his family life and see if there's anything to be done to help him manage.

HollowTalk · 18/03/2022 10:41

That's shocking. FaceTiming in office hours? What is he thinking of?

I think he needs a meeting which is minuted, where he's reminded of his duties. Next step would be a disciplinary.

HeadToToesNo · 18/03/2022 10:42

Unacceptable and a written warning is a good first move.
I would look at removing someone like this from my company, it shows an utter lack of respect.

donquixotedelamancha · 18/03/2022 10:43

if everyone decided to be late the business wouldn't work.

I think this is the key. For most businesses being flexible doesn't hurt and treating your staff in a considerate manner is a huge advantage to recruitment and retention.

If, however, your business has completely fixed hours and you wouldn't allow others to do this, then this isn't fair on other employees and will build resentment.

You should also consider how easily he can be replaced with someone equally good.

Whatever you do, be transparent and fair. Perhaps he can apply for flexible working and lose 10 minutes from lunch?

You also need to speak to him about the calls and, if it doesn't stop, start the informal part of your disciplinary procedure.

BlingLoving · 18/03/2022 10:46

You need to take his wife out of the equation. She does not work for you.

He is consistently late. As you point out, your business is not one where this isn't a problem and currently there is a risk that you are alienating employees who DO make it to work on time. So you need to have a formal conversation with him - either he makes it on time or he can submit some kind of request for a formal shift in his working hours/contract and you will take it under advisement.

MaudieandMe · 18/03/2022 10:47

You need to tackle both the lateness and the phone interruptions directly and formally. He’s being paid to work, not manage his family remotely.

I can guarantee that if you don’t deal with this head on, the other staff will become very demotivated and you’ll have a much bigger problem to deal with.

HollowTalk · 18/03/2022 10:51

He and his wife need to realise that if he loses that job they'll really have a problem. What is up with that man?!

Ozanj · 18/03/2022 10:53

Before you tackle the lateness issue ask yourself how much it would cost (in time and money) to hire and train his replacement. Because the minute you have this chat you may make him realise that he needs an employer who is more family friendly & he may be out like a shot. So many inflexible employers are losing talent and unable to fill it because people will not stand to be treated like crap any more & because there’s a lot more options.

LetHimHaveIt · 18/03/2022 10:53

Persistent lateness is absolutely unacceptable. It tells your co-workers you think your time is worth more than theirs.

CamsPaisleyCuffs · 18/03/2022 10:55

@lou7575

"Myself and other manager have mentioned this to the employee however he really doesn't seem to care."

And that is the crux of your problem. Before you even meet with him decide what options you want to give him and don't let him leave the room without an answer:

(a) He turns up by the start of his shift (and this will be monitored and a formal warning given if no improvement).
or
(b) He works extra at the end of the day or has a reduced lunch break to make up the lost time?
or
(c) He changes his working hours to accommodate his commitments elsewhere?

Lay it all out very clearly and let him know it is an issue which needs to be addressed and resolved otherwise a formal disciplinary will be the next step. Regardless of whether he's helping with the kids/walking the dog/grabby a Maccy D's on the way in, he is late.

I'd also take the opportunity to tell him personal calls unless an emergency need to be taken in his own time as they are disruptive.

NameChangeCity123 · 18/03/2022 10:58

I have challenged a male in this situation before and he threatened to take me to HR for bullying. Said other people were also late and none of them had been challenged. He brought a second male colleague in to speak with me after I had pulled him about it so he 'had a witness'- I was a 5'4 woman in my twenties at the time and these were two men in their late 50s, both over 6ft. I think there was another motivation there....

I had been through the sign in sheets and highlighted that other staff members were on average x amount of mins late per week compared to his x amount of minutes (which if I remember correctly averaged out to over 4 hours over the month!) and that it was not opinion, it was fact.
He had a history of doing as he pleased- the manager before me said he disappeared one day and nobody could find him.
They called his home to ask his wife and he answered his home Phone!! Other manager did nothing about this, not a thing. This made my job all the more difficult as he was used to doing as he pleased.

My advice would be link in with HR and see what evidence you need to get it to disciplinary

HowIsThisRight · 18/03/2022 10:59

OP: in this particular field, flexible working is not feasible and the employees need to be available from 9am on the dot.

MN: aw, can't you just let him start later and finish later?

Ffs.

In my job, mobile phones outside of break times are banned. It looks like this guy can't separate his work life from his home life and you may need to start setting firmer rules. Can't get your kids ready in an hour? Prep the night before or get up earlier. End of.

TrufflyPig · 18/03/2022 11:01

Before you tackle the lateness issue ask yourself how much it would cost (in time and money) to hire and train his replacement. Because the minute you have this chat you may make him realise that he needs an employer who is more family friendly & he may be out like a shot. So many inflexible employers are losing talent and unable to fill it because people will not stand to be treated like crap any more & because there’s a lot more options.

He hasn't asked for flexible hours though, he's just turning up whenever he pleases.

Oblomov22 · 18/03/2022 11:02

Of course it matters. You must follow procedure and make sure it is properly documented. Presumably a verbal warning first?

Gonnagetgoing · 18/03/2022 11:03

@PearlclutchersInc

Sounds like one of my co-workers. His wife is not coping at all well and he picks up the slack. From the outside looking in she's needy and clingy but her MH is not good at all.

Before you get all cat-arse mouthed about it suggest you look at his family life and see if there's anything to be done to help him manage.

@PearlclutchersInc - it is not OP's job to look at his family life and see if he needs help managing!

Close friend of mine, her DB has a DW with a bad illness plus bipolar. She did work for a few years but either resigned or was made redundant. Her DH has been helping her for many years (along with his DC) and coped in a good professional job. He's actually recently been made redundant but also his company were planning to relocate up north and he wouldn't have moved. He certainly didn't ask his company for help managing.

OneShotOneKill · 18/03/2022 11:03

@lou7575

Male employee consistently late by 5-10 minutes nearly everyday. The excuse is about getting the children ready for school etc...he has 4 children between 1 and 9 years so I understand this is probably very hectic however his wife doesn't work, never has, and is a stay at home mum and does the school run etc normally. Other employees have commented as everyone else manages to get here on time. Myself and other manager have mentioned this to the employee however he really doesn't seem to care. Not sure if we are being unreasonable by giving written warning etc but we have tried to be understanding of the situation. Any advice or past experience in similar situations?
You’re asking mumsnet how to manage an employee, don’t you have an HR department? Verbal warning, written warning, final warning, sacked. It’s a piss take and if they don’t care then you shouldn’t employee them.
Gonnagetgoing · 18/03/2022 11:04

@TrufflyPig

Before you tackle the lateness issue ask yourself how much it would cost (in time and money) to hire and train his replacement. Because the minute you have this chat you may make him realise that he needs an employer who is more family friendly & he may be out like a shot. So many inflexible employers are losing talent and unable to fill it because people will not stand to be treated like crap any more & because there’s a lot more options.

He hasn't asked for flexible hours though, he's just turning up whenever he pleases.

@TrufflyPig - he's taking the piss and may be expecting sympathy due to his wife.
Franca123 · 18/03/2022 11:05

You'll just have to explain and then start warnings. Log each instance of lateness and document the meeting. Send formal warning letters etc..... Start to push him out. You'll have to keep in mind replacing him. Will that be easy?

TrufflyPig · 18/03/2022 11:06

@Gonnagetgoing Agree, he is. Needs to be challenged.