Written warning re: Timekeeping, suggestions please

Reds-on-Sea

I get out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off & I'm straight in the shower, I'm not a "snoozer" I'd get it in the neck from OH if the alarm kept going off, he's in bed for another 2 hrs after me!!

However, yes, they sometimes go on late and I'm tired the next day, but this is a totally non-negotiable issue (for me).

Looking for job in London, which means a train commute, not car. I long for the (relatively!!) predictability of the train journey. Will also mean I can finish my makeup and sleep on the way in.

LittleVoice

Reds-on-Sea wrote: »

I get out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off & I'm straight in the shower, I'm not a "snoozer" I'd get it in the neck from OH if the alarm kept going off, he's in bed for another 2 hrs after me!!

However, yes, they sometimes go on late and I'm tired the next day, but this is a totally non-negotiable issue (for me).

Looking for job in London, which means a train commute, not car. I long for the (relatively!!) predictability of the train journey. Will also mean I can finish my makeup and sleep on the way in.

BTW my earlier question may have sounded rather harsh - it wasn't meant to.

Though you say the gigs etc are non-negotiable you may need to decide which is more important in the long-term - the gigs or a steady income.

Hope the jobsearch in London works out in the way you hope.

Best wishes

LV

Oldernotwiser

Reds-on-Sea wrote: »

Yes, I agree with you about changing my attitude - I'll be getting up 30 mins earlier tomorrow (and forever more!) I will try and shorten my 'getting ready' time, but I'm such an ugly mug the make-up part takes ages! lol!

Timekeeping isn't my strong point either. When I was having problems I'd put my makeup on at work, having hopefully arrived early. If there was a hold up on the way they had to put up with me as nature intended, at least until coffee break. As a strategy, it works quite well; better to be thought homely than to be sacked!

Reds-on-Sea

LittleVoice wrote: »

BTW my earlier question may have sounded rather harsh - it wasn't meant to.

Though you say the gigs etc are non-negotiable you may need to decide which is more important in the long-term - the gigs or a steady income.

LV

ah, don't worry, I've seen far worse replies on other threads, I think I've got off lightly!

Can see what you're saying about the gigs. It really doesn't impact that much on the whole "getting up" thing that much. I'd be miserable if I couldn't do the things I love in my spare time though, it partly makes me who I am.

I've made lots of other sacrifices to get more sleep though, given up drinking booze on school nights as it makes me oversleep, always make lunch night before, set myself limits with computer time at night (including working on it, not just MSEing!), I've even cut down on the all-night rampant sex sessions (though that wasn't my choice!) :rotfl:

Kavanne

I generally get to work about 25 mins early.

If there is traffic/bad weather then I will only get there 10 mins early or on time. Well done for setting your alarm half an hour earlier. If you carry on your same routine you will get to work at least 20 mins before start time which should demonstrate to your managers that you're committed to change.

mymatebob

You should see this warning as an opportunity to ensure you get to work on time from now on.
The fact that you have been getting away with it for 5 years as you put it may not necessarily have gone unnoticed.
You are looking for another job and there may be redundancies around the corner so you want to keep on good terms with your current employer.
A good reference can make a big difference in obtaining a job.

You cannot guarantee that you will never be late for anything - none of us can, but at least take control of the part of your life that is there to be controlled

Paparika

Reds-on-Sea wrote: »

I’m due to have my 2nd (written) warning on Friday with regards to my timekeeping.
I’ve been employed with my company for 5.5 yrs and I can safely say that my work is exemplary. I’m slightly nervous as the company have made some redundancies in the last couple of weeks, so I’m worried that they’ll use this as an excuse to sack me if it happens again. I know that no redundancies are planned for my dept as it’s one of the areas of the company that is expanding.
I’m not silly enough to believe that I’m indispensible – nobody is, but I think they know that they’d be shooting themselves in the foot if they did get rid of me....Anyways that's besides the point
I’ve always had a problem with time keeping, even when I lived 15 mins away. (I had one job that was a 20 second walk and I used to be late!) Anyway, I have a 22 mile journey on a main route into London (I don’t work in London) it’s a very busy road with accidents every other day. I leave 45-50 mins to get to work, but it’s very unpredictable. I’m usually 2 or 3 minutes late a couple of times a week. It’s a factory based environment, and totally male dominated.
A lot of other people are often late too, but I live one of the furthest away and they've been keeping a very close eye on me......it might be because I recently mentioned I was dissatisfied with me job and was furiously searching for something new (ooops!) I've kinda changed my mind recently as things have improved a lot, but maybe they don't know that.
Has anyone got any constructive ideas on what I can suggest to sound as if I’m making an effort? Or just help me get to work earlier?
I don’t want to go in with a long list of excuses either, I take responsibility for my own lateness – but in my defence:
I’m paid hourly, if I’m 3 mins late, I get docked 15mins pay (the people on salary don’t get docked)
I’m a woman! It’s physically impossible for me to roll straight out of bed into the car, I have to wash my hair in the morning as it’s long and gets greasy during the night. Also (and no, I don’t wear lots of make up to impress the factory guys), but I won’t leave the house without makeup (for the benefit of public decency!) this all takes time, I get up at 6am for an 8:30 start.
I can try, but I can't promise that I will never be 1 minute late ever again. Can they sack me if it happens just 1 more time? I don't want to lose my job!
Any suggestions?
thanks

sorry but get an alarm clock, set it early, put some effort in, so many people loosing their jobs through no thought of their own and you can't promise never to be late ever again.

anniecave

Reds-on-Sea wrote: »

One last question though... say I was good for 3 months and then there was a terrible traffic day/snow day/ other unpredictable occurrence and I ended up being late....despite leaving a stupid o'clock....and everyone else being late too......would I have any defence, or have I dug myself into such a hole that they'd still be able to reasonably sack me? There's been a couple of times where it's taken over 2 hours to get in to work.

thanks

In my experience, when everyone's late due to a common problem (be it snow, accident nearby etc) then no-one's going take much notice.
Make sure you phone in though (and see if anyone else is there to even answer the phones!)

By the time you've been arriving early for 3 months, by then they'll have moved on to monitoring someone elses's arrival times, even if they don't do anything about them for that one day!

chika

Your post made me smile Reds on Sea, it could so easily have been me who wrote that post. Fortunatly I have a fabulous boss who understands that some people just weren't born to be on time, otherwise I'd be in the dole queue!

I think the "get an alarm clock" brigade just don't realise the difficulties some people have being on time. Its amazing that you can get up, shower, do your hair, put on a face, cook a three course breakfast, iron clothes, make beds and mow the lawn in 20 minutes but not everyone is like that.

OP you have my sympathy. I think your best bet would be to chat to your boss, look really sincere and say that you will try harder. You could try getting up 15 minutes early but if you're like me which i suspect you are then it won't make a bit of difference. Good luck with the job hunting and your band.

mymatebob

chika wrote: »

Your post made me smile Reds on Sea, it could so easily have been me who wrote that post. Fortunatly I have a fabulous boss who understands that some people just weren't born to be on time, otherwise I'd be in the dole queue!

I think the "get an alarm clock" brigade just don't realise the difficulties some people have being on time. Its amazing that you can get up, shower, do your hair, put on a face, cook a three course breakfast, iron clothes, make beds and mow the lawn in 20 minutes but not everyone is like that.

OP you have my sympathy. I think your best bet would be to chat to your boss, look really sincere and say that you will try harder. You could try getting up 15 minutes early but if you're like me which i suspect you are then it won't make a bit of difference. Good luck with the job hunting and your band.

If you need more time - take more time.
Not difficult.
If you get up 15 minutes earlier and still can't make a difference than try 30 minutes earlier.
What are you doing with that "extra" time that makes no difference to your routine?

If the OP is having a written warning then smiling sweetly and saying you will try harder is not going to cut much ice. The OP will have to demonstrate that they can come in on time - regularly.