Skip to main content
Ask the Etiquette Expert

Business Etiquette for Late Employees

By May 26, 2015December 18th, 2023No Comments

Dear Diane,

I have an employee who is constantly late to work. On average, he arrives tardy to the office about 2 to 3 times per week. It’s hard for me to discipline him since he is one of my top performers, and he also opts to work later hours when he arrives past our start time – without being asked! However, we do have a strict attendance policy, and I’ve noticed my staff is gradually becoming sour at the fact that he can get away with this type of behavior. How can I address his actions in a fair way without upsetting the rest of the team?

Mike L.

Dear Mike,

You are wise to be observant of staff morale. It seems you understand that this behavior should be addressed, but, also know you truly value his contributions. I would suggest documenting the tardiness and scheduling a meeting to discuss this issue. Ask your employee if there is a reason he is always 20 minutes late to work on specific days during the week. Perhaps he has to drop his children off at daycare. Maybe he shares a car with his wife and takes her to work first before coming into the office. Figure out what is causing the problem and talk through the hurdle together. Brainstorm a few possible solutions.

If there is room in your attendance policy, it might do well to offer him a flexible schedule, allowing him to come into work an hour early and leave an hour later. For numerous reasons, the attendance policy does need to be enforced. Whether he is a top performer or not, it’s annoying for other employees to have to pick up the slack of those who are often running late. It’s not fair for them to have to meet with another coworker’s clients in the morning or answer ringing phones because he isn’t there. Ultimately, it’s in his job description to be at the office on time.

Best of luck,

Diane

 

You may also like How to Get Your Emails Read. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc.subscribe to her articles on HuffPost, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on PinterestInstagram, and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.

Diane Gottsman

Author Diane Gottsman

More posts by Diane Gottsman