Written Warning for Lateness

Loopy73

Yesterday without any warning I got pulled into a meeting at work and given a letter titled Formal Warning. This is because in October I was late 3 times and November 5 times, each by a few minutes.


The reason for my lateness is public transport and weather conditions which I can provide proof of and I always call and inform them I'll be late.


My question is if I just be handed this without any sort of verbal conversation first.


I did a few months ago ask if I could change my shift to start half an hour early as there is less traffic and the buses aren't as full so it's a lot easier to get to work, I was told my boss would think about it. I raised this again in the meeting and was told once again this would be considered.


The warning reads:


This letter is a formal warning of the discipline issues you have had recently. We are extremely disappointed by the way you deal with the work after many serious talks and warnings. In particular your excessive lateness, your failure to come to work on time.


It then lists the dates.


As mentioned in previous talk and warnings this could lead to the termination of your employment. As you are aware from previous communication this is a disciplinary matter. I must advise you this might be considered an act of gross misconduct which could result n the summary termination of your employment.


Now as a company everyone has been involved in a meeting about lateness and how to combat it. I have had one discussion with my boss about lateness of which I have never been advised a formal warning would be issued or how many periods of lateness would result in this.


If anyone who knows employment laws could help with advising on where I stand with this I'd be most grateful.

lemontart

by sounds of it you have had "talks" about your timekeeping so they may well be your verbal warnings.

As for getting there being issue due to public transport perhaps getting an earlier train/bus would solve issue, if means at work early so be it - sit and have you time with coffee and book before actual start time.

milliemonster

Yes I have to say, if you've already discussed starting half an hour earlier, that means you must be able to get to work half an hour earlier than currently anyway so why can't you just choose to do that then you won't be consistently late?

teffers

This link may (or may not) be of use:

https://www.gov.uk/solve-workplace-dispute/overview

It sounds counter-intuitive but many workplaces actually issue a record of a 'verbal' warning in letter form and the employee signs to say they have been issued with the notice.

This would avoid doubt as to whether a 'discussion' is actually a warning or an informal chat/meeting.

bluenoseam

Without meaning to sound harsh you've requested a shift which starts an hour early which to me at the very least suggests that you can be in on time, you however elect not to do so. Simple solution is to take the earlier bus/train & get in to work EARLY - I'd have thought that was unnecessary to explain.

How long have you worked for said employer anyway?

BoJangles_2

I have to agree with some of the previous posts, by your own admission, conversations have taken place and out of that you have requested a change in shift time. I would advise you to put all effort into getting to work on time in future.

HappyMJ

If you started your shift an hour earlier you would also be occasionally late as that scheduled bus/train may be 5 minutes late getting out of the depot in the morning.

I have the same problem as you but I catch the first bus of the day and am usually up to an hour early for work. I have coffee, read the newspapers and catch up on my personal emails on my tablet. However despite catching the first bus sometimes that bus is faulty in the depot and the service is cancelled. This causes me to miss my train and I end up an hour late...but really it's just a few minutes as I aim to be there quite early.

Pennywise

Simple answer is get an earlier bus. My son gets a 7.30 bus and arrives at school around 8.15 which is far too early for their 8.50 start, but he, and plenty of others, have to do it. The 8.00 bus would, in a perfect world, get them to school by 8.45, but in reality, is often late, so it's a risk they won't take as they know they'll get a detention if they are late. If 12 year olds can work it out and accept getting there too early, I'm sure you can too.

Takeaway_Addict

They haven't done a discplinary hearing as it probably should have been done but ultimately there is very little you can do about it.

Your post also shows your complete missing the point, you are constantly late, constantly unreliable and rather than solving this issue you are trying to wiggle out on a technicality.

Get the earlier bus.

And its all more pointless if you haven't been there more than 2 years.

timbo58

Unfortunately no employer is obliged to take into account your transport difficulties, however much evidence you can provide to prove this is outside of your own reasonable control.

I worked for a major train company some years ago (for many years) and this excuse was never accepted, even when travel to work was on one of their trains!

The rule is 'you knew where you worked when you took the job', meaning you took the job knowing where work was located and should appear there on time every single day, it matters not how difficult it is to get to work or transport changes in the meantime, as others have rightly said, turn up for work early, as you've already stated you can.

An employer is legally obliged to consider a request for flexible working, but in reality this means nothing -if it doesn't fit what the employer needs from you, then it won't be granted.

dawyldthing

It's definately worth getting the earlier bus to get there early. Either way you don't want your card marked and 8 times late in 2 months is a lot to be honest. Even have breakfast there or something, give yourself something to look forwards to while waiting