Employer Doles Out Punishment for the Pettiest Things!

ReadingTim

They expect you to work on time for the same reasons as you expect to be paid on time.

Welcome to the world of being a grown up.

System

EliotBee wrote: »

Only three instances of absence or lateness are allowed in the first six months of employment before your contract is either terminated or put on an extended probationary period. This is fine on the surface, but this also includes lateness of mere SECONDS. If your start time is 09:00 and your computer freezes for a few seconds too long, making it 09:01 when you signed in, you are pulled into a 20 minute long meeting to discuss why it happened.

Your employer isn't being harsh, they're expecting you to do what was expected as the norm from employees for donkeys years, to get at work sufficiently early enough that you're ready to start at the start time, not still getting your coat off and going to your desk.

I can count the numbers of times I've been late to work in 30 years on the fingers of one hand. I was taught at a young age to arrive to work early and heading towards 50 years old I'm still at work every day 10 minutes early and I manage to do this despite working for an agency where my start times can be all over the place and I can work for five different companies in five different locations in a single week.

The problem is you and your attitude to work where you think that turning up 30 seconds before start time is in any way acceptable. If you are timing setting off for work so you walk through the doors at 8.59am instead of 8.45-8.50am which would allow leeway for delays and give you time to make a brew before you started for the day then you're going to continue to be hauled in for discussions about your poor time keeping no matter where you work.

phoenix1837

If you are early, you are on time
If you are on time, you are late

A quote I live by, don't know who said it but it's a good one

Murphybear

I have always hated being late for everything. A few years ago I did some temp work for the council in a small stand-alone unit. After a few days the boss called me and said she had noticed I was arriving a few minutes late each day. As a normally good timekeeper I was surprised until someone pointed out that the clock they used to time staff was fast. I therefore apologised and arrived "on time" every day but made sure I left according to their clock, not mine.

The moral is they are the boss, what they say goes. If you think they are being mean about a few seconds then arrange to get there a few minutes early. You will find it relaxing and less stressful. As others have said, get a brew, have a chat with others etc.

You may find that when asking for a reference in future one of the questions that may be asked is "how good is their timekeeping".

74jax

I don't class being at work for the start time petty? You mention other 'things'. What are they, maybe we can help with those?

SingleSue

I have always made sure I make plans to arrive at least 10 minutes early, not just for work but for everything in life. As one of the quotes said, if I am on time, in my book I am late...and I get very very stressed. To ensure that I don't get stressed, I leave home 30 minutes before shift start time even though the drive is less than 10 minutes (6-7 on a very good day). In adverse weather, I give myself even more time.

My hours are the same as the opening hours, I get there early, make a cup of tea, get the computer switched on, go for a wee, check the financial logs add up to what is in the safe, all in a nice relaxed fashion. Bang on opening time, I open the doors. I'd rather be there 10 or so mins early (it was 25 minutes yesterday, I read Facebook for a little while on my phone to pass the time) and be nice and calm than 2 minutes before opening time and running around like a headless chicken!

An added bonus is that I also get the choice of parking, close to or at opening time it is manic out there!

As an extra note, I have issues with my mental health and I am also physically disabled but I see it as my responsibility to be at work on time and to adjust things to make sure I am.

engineer_amy

SingleSue wrote: »

I have always made sure I make plans to arrive at least 10 minutes early, not just for work but for everything in life. As one of the quotes said, if I am on time, in my book I am late...and I get very very stressed. To ensure that I don't get stressed, I leave home 30 minutes before shift start time even though the drive is less than 10 minutes (6-7 on a very good day). In adverse weather, I give myself even more time.

My hours are the same as the opening hours, I get there early, make a cup of tea, get the computer switched on, go for a wee, check the financial logs add up to what is in the safe, all in a nice relaxed fashion. Bang on opening time, I open the doors. I'd rather be there 10 or so mins early (it was 25 minutes yesterday, I read Facebook for a little while on my phone to pass the time) and be nice and calm than 2 minutes before opening time and running around like a headless chicken!

An added bonus is that I also get the choice of parking, close to or at opening time it is manic out there!

....

I could have written this myself! this is precisely what I do, open up the office a little bit early, get my coffee, quick check of the headlines on BBC website, check the banks and then ready to get stuck into work for 9am. Our office is next to a primary school and the parents use our parking spaces while dropping kids off at 9. Then some of my staff arrive 10 mins late, complaining about not being able to find a parking space, then proceed to make some toast/tea/coffee and discuss last nights TV programmes, so its actually 9.30 before any real work starts.

TELLIT01

The one piece of management idiocy I do see in this, if it's being reported accurately, is to drag somebody away from work for 20 minutes to discipline them for starting 1 minute late.

ReadingTim

TELLIT01 wrote: »

The one piece of management idiocy I do see in this, if it's being reported accurately, is to drag somebody away from work for 20 minutes to discipline them for starting 1 minute late.

Unless it prevents 20 or more subsequent 1 minute late arrivals, when it would be time well spent....

Ames

OP, have you posted about this before? I remember reading a very similar thread, including the computer problem, a few months ago. I can't find it now.