Late To Work? Why You’ll Be Fired

You hear it all the time. “But boss, I’m only five minutes late. What’s the big deal?”

Actually, it’s a very big deal.

“Unfaithfulness in the keeping of an appointment,” said Horace Mann, the great educator, “is an act of clear dishonesty. You may as well borrow a person’s money as his time.”

No one has perfect attendance, it happens that everyone at some point is late. In some fields and professions it’s a minor manner, especially if you work independently and don’t have others instantly dependent on you.

But in many work environments, being late is a big problem, one that can result in lower wages, fewer promotions and in times like these, a bright pink slip saying you’re fired.

Why is being late so important?

First, the best person in the world isn’t worth a damn if they’re not where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there. It doesn’t matter how skilled you are, how much experience you have or how well you have been educated; none of that stuff is worth anything if you’re not available.

Second, if other people depend on you — team members, subordinates or superiors — they are stuck until you get into gear. That’s noxious at best, grounds for dismal at worst. In today’s employment environment it’s not wise to aggravate other people if you can help it.

Third, being late is simply disrespectful. The message is that someone just doesn’t care, isn’t making an effort and sees little value in what they’re doing. That’s not a smart message.

Ask yourself a question: Why do some people get promoted while others don’t? Why do some people get retained while others are canned? Part of the answer is that employers look for people who are good team players, people who are reliable, interested and striving. Folks who are late don’t fit.

Being on time, in the right place and ready for work is a baseline necessity in many fields. The good news is that when you have a consistent pattern of being on time then when it does happen that you’re late — and it will happen — other people will not take offense, not feel devalued and not sense that they have been treated disrespectfully. In other words, you get points and credit when playing by the rules.

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