timekeeping/advice

eveningprimrose · 30 Aug 2011 at 23:45

Hi

bit of advice needed apart from the obvious answer.

in just under 2 years employment office job. got a verbal and written warning over timekeeping justified if i am honest no complaints with these. Don't want to lose my job so got up earlier put in the effort to get there on time.

Been late on two occasions since the written warning both times was late not long after my warning (9.01am) then 34 days later again (9.01am) granted late is late but its 1 minute.

The rule where i work is late in two occasions within 30 days could cause further disciplinary. i disputed this as there is nothing in staff handbook about 30 working days as if 30 days i would be ok.

other things to take into consideration. my father very ill i have to look after him (clean up and things before i go to work) i travel 34 miles just to get there.(no excuse about the distance but i am more likely to get hold up its motorways all the way) my timekeeping has improved no end some months i was late 10 times before warning)

got a meeting on Thurs, have i got a good case or is it a final warning.

personally feel i am wanted out. they have never complained about my work in my 2 years of employment. (i have had praise)

JonJ678 · 31 Aug 2011 at 00:33

This is pretty obviously an computing forum. What made you choose these boards to make your post about conflict at work?

All I can come up with is that you've been here before, and were banned for illiteracy.

HangTime · 31 Aug 2011 at 02:12

Regarding the 30 day thing bit of a grey area however 30 working days may be reasonable as 30 'real' days might only mean say 8 actual working days if you had a 2 week holiday in the middle of it.

As for being 1 minute late after a 34 mile journey it sounds like a bit of an annoying clock-watching company to work for, unless there is a genuine need for you to always be in bang on time (call centre perhaps), maybe there is if they are clocking you in that precisely. Personally I wouldn't call staff up on that providing their standard of work was good and they were putting their hours in (i.e. no long lunch breaks, sneaking off early etc). Then again you may have made a rod for your own back in the past by being late 10 times a month as people will be looking out for you after that.

Chances are you just need to allow even more time in the mornings, my wife takes the motorway to work and I don't think has ever been late in nearly 3 years, it is normally a 25-30min drive and she allows 45mins (more if she suspects delays e.g. poor weather conditions).

I am no saint, at a previous employer I was late a few times maybe once every 6 months or so although thankfully never got disciplined over it, I would always apologise on arrival and state that I would take it out of my lunchbreak. Even in my current job I am sometimes up to 5mins late although I am not one for faffing about chatting, making breakfast, having a dump/fag etc - I still physically start work before some others. I often do more than my contracted hours in total, so if they start clamping down then I will just work to rule by claiming a full hour for lunch and walk out the door at 17:30 regardless of whether things still need to be done.

hlxbravo · 31 Aug 2011 at 05:42

As above says, does sound extreme but as you point out yourself, technically you were late. Best make an extra effort on the day I think.....can't really turn up for a lateness disciplinary, having been late that day too.

JonJ678 said:
....and were banned for illiteracy.

is this correct ? Sounds harsh being banned for being illiterate, half the forum posts contain some modicum of illiteracy....now where's my big stick.....

Uhtred · 31 Aug 2011 at 06:41

Are others treated the same? Ie by the minute?

eveningprimrose · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:02

i have never been on this forum before, i found a similar thread via google.

As for other being treated the same, 2 other people just to come in about 3 mins late most days till i mentioned that they got away with it and i dont, they are not late now .

its not a call centre,

Philtor · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:06

This was common at my old place of work as well. You'll just have to get up that bit earlier and leave earlier to allow for the traffic on the way to work.

Paul11 · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:10

JonJ678 said:
This is pretty obviously an computing forum. What made you choose these boards to make your post about conflict at work?

All I can come up with is that you've been here before, and were banned for illiteracy.

so nothing but computers can be discussed ? silly comment

and recording 1 min as lateness by your company is a bit OTT imo.

but as said, aim to get in 20 mins early...

and talking of illiteracy, its a computing forum, not an computing forum.

DBT85 · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:22

Always aim to get there at least 15 minutes early.

If you are paid to be at work from 9 -5 and turn up bang on 9 every morning then their attitude is that you are working to the minute and so of course they are going to pull you up on it if you are late. If you usually turn up 15 minutes early then they'll stop taking any interest what so ever. Just spend more time on facebook or take an extra dump if you still want to stick it to the man and can't then leave 15 minutes early.

rapid64k · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:23

This is the General Discussion thread feel more than welcome to discuss things here.
Why not try setting one of your clocks at home say 15 minutes early, I do this and it helps me a great deal.

Cosimo · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:26

This one minute lateness really does sound over the top. What kind of job requires that kind of punctuality? Practically you should be aiming to be at least twenty minutes before you start for the time being.

DBT85 · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:38

simulatorman said:
This one minute lateness really does sound over the top. What kind of job requires that kind of punctuality? Practically you should be aiming to be at least twenty minutes before you start for the time being.

As I said, if the company perceives him as a "I'm not working for you on my own time" person then they are going to chase him up when he isn't working on theirs. If you appear like you want to turn up for work early and are ready to start or already working at your official star time, they ignore those days where you so have an issue and are an hour late.

IceBus · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:59

Get up 20mins earlier?

Mat · 31 Aug 2011 at 10:25

JonJ678 said:
This is pretty obviously an computing forum. What made you choose these boards to make your post about conflict at work?

All I can come up with is that you've been here before, and were banned for illiteracy.

What a stupid post.
Have a good look at the list of available sub forums to post in and I think you'll find that pretty much anything goes. Also, before you go criticising people for illiteracy, make sure you check your own posts for errors such as 'an computing forum'.

MrKnifey · 31 Aug 2011 at 10:28

Ive always been told I start work at 8am.. Not arrive for 8am.. So I have to be ready and waiting for work at 8.

Paul11 · 31 Aug 2011 at 10:29

its funny though how companies would be quick to complain at a few mins late arrival, but i bet when you stay a bit late afterwork it never gets mentioned

WillyNelson · 31 Aug 2011 at 10:56

If you're starting work at 9 you should be aiming to get there for at least 8:45. A 35mile drive is no real excuse as you should have factored in the travel time when you applied for the job and should take probable traffic delays into account when you're timing what time to leave the house.

I appreciate that you're looking after your sick father and they may take this into account in that you can't always leave the house as early as you'd like. As long as you're apologetic, you explain your position potliely and there is no issue with the quality of your work then you should be ok. Offer to make up the time after hours or take a shorter lunch if necessary. Employees should have some sort of policy in a work/life balance designed to take into account things like looking after a dependant.

kokuten · 31 Aug 2011 at 11:13

i just leave early, if the time you are leaving now gets you there cutting it fine, then wake up earlier, do your chores earlier, leave earlier, it isn't rocket science

Lokai · 31 Aug 2011 at 11:36

I start work at 9am and am usually in everyday for around 8.20am ish. Sometimes i start working early sometimes i mess around on forums. Aim to get in 40 mins or so early everyday and you wont have any problems.

semi-pro waster · 31 Aug 2011 at 11:58

crankbro said:
Ive always been told I start work at 8am.. Not arrive for 8am.. So I have to be ready and waiting for work at 8.

Which is fine up to a point but I've worked for companies before where just logging onto the computer takes 10-15 minutes (and the rest) and that's something that irks me - not because I've got to show up before my scheduled start time, I don't mind doing that for a little bit but when the system takes so long to log on because the company won't countenance upgrading it's computers that's when it becomes irritating. Either they should be paying me for my time in having to come in that much earlier every day to be ready to start at a specific time or they should take the expense of upgrading the computers so that it only takes 5 minutes or whatever.

As for the original question, I wouldn't say that you've got a particularly good case but if you apologise and point to a much improved record of timekeeping then that may well mitigate any action being taken against you.