How does your facility define "Lateness to work"

Nurses General Nursing

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Have counseled 2 staff members for lateness since 12/06 following health systems progressive counseling policy (met 3 x so far, signed form by staff each time acknowledgeing must be on time), informed last time final expectations with intent to dismiss if late more than 1 x in 2 week pay. Each is late 3-4 + days/ week by 15-45 min without notice....unable arrive for 12 noon shift start!

Because referrals are awaiting processing by them, unable to get information timely to other departments. Both live with parents, no kids, no known medical issues as reason for lateness.

One reached final expectations with intent to terminate, informed must be on time 2 weeks ago, only 1 x per last pay arrived at 12N . Today both arrived at 12:40P ---no notice and told intend to Terminate, setting up meeting with HR tomorrow.....they acted SHOCKED!

Other staff member, acknowledged being late but thought 15 minutes "ok and acceptable business practice"

Meeting with HR to see what is considered "acceptable" lateness by agency standards.

What is considered "late" at your facility and how is it handled?

Late is late.

We work 3-3 . . . so I have to be at work for the start of report at 0245. I usually show up 5 minutes early and go right to report.

We don't have time clocks - just cards we fill out ourselves. Thank goodness. You all are confusing me with the rounding stuff. :uhoh3:

steph

We have time clocks that go in 6 min. increments. To be "on time" you must clock in 3min on either side of scheduled time. I am the unit coordinator and although I am almost always on time (once or twice a year I get stopped by the local train!).. I do often clock in late. When I walk in the door, it is not uncommon to hear "I'm so glad you're here!" from a night shifter with an issue that I need to address before I get my coat off! :) Sometimes the MDs are there early and need my help ordering whatever it is they want. When we have students, it's almost impossible to reach our time clock since our report room is so tiny! Luckily we have a board that we can write discrepancies on and they will adjust it. Comes in very handy when I get pulled to another unit for a few hours too... have to charge a different cost center for my time. I have never been counselled for clocking in late, I guess since everyone knows I'm working from the second I step off the elevator!! If someone did want to press the issue, I could prove it by having IT show my sign-in time on my computer, but it's never been an issue.

I agree with some of the posters about the younger generation as a whole. I have two daughters 17 and 20... and have stressed millions of times the importance of being on time, ready to work... or calling in sick in a timely manner if they needed to. I don't see it much at the hospital, but in my other life as a lane server in a bowling alley it was horrible!! Some of the younger ones they hired either drifted in whenever they wanted (and left before everything was done!)... or decided to just not show up. They would stand at the server station complaining of having nothing to do.. no orders. Duh... you have to ask the customers first! Can anyone guess who made more tips?? The 40-something that knew every customer by name.. or the young cute ones who griped at the bar station?? :)

Specializes in NICU.

Just to support my generation. I think there are slackers in every generation first of all. Second of all maybe it has more to do with immaturity and not the fact that it is just our generation. Teens and young adults maybe just haven't learned how to behave like adults yet. You can't blame it on that generation. I know just as many young adults who are chronically late as I do older adults who are chronically late. IMO it is a personality trait... not a generational trait..

I'm not jumping on anyone. I'm just giving my .02

Specializes in cardiology-now CTICU.

a few threads here lately have turned into a "these kids today" kind of thing. it is interesting. i too believe that lateness and the lack of regard for others it speaks of are more a personality trait thing than an age thing.

Teens and young adults maybe just haven't learned how to behave like adults yet.

I agree that it's not a generational trait, but young adults who are in professions where a person's life depends on that young adult, s/he sure as aych-ee-double toothpicks had better mature fast!!

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

What's interesting to me is that, at my current job, the one chronically late person is old enough to be my mother.

Specializes in Government.

I really do not see this as a generational thing. I feel it is a personality trait. I also saw some of the worst offenders use the crutch of their kids/grandkids as a reason for lateness on a daily basis. In my experience, it crosses all age delineations.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Thanks for your insights.

Two months ago personaly reviewed with each person facility P+P regarding lateness including last step final seperation = termination of employment.

One person was off today, other staff member in by 11:55AM with computer up and running....they want to stay employed.

Hoping this is last staff conversation on issue.

Specializes in ER/Trauma.
what's interesting to me is that, at my current job, the one chronically late person is old enough to be my mother.
yep, same here.

and so is the preceptor who drilled it into my head on my first day of orientation that i "better be early to work than late" or i'd catch all kinds of heck from the nurses i was relieving.

i am so glad i had her for a preceptor. could not have asked for a better one! :)

cheers,

ps: i had an argument with 13 year old cousin a few days ago. it was my day off and i was supposed to drop the brat off to school since his parents had to leave early for work. he saunters downstairs for breakfast 10 minutes late and leaves me with about 10 minutes to get him to school. it is do-able but it violates the principle of the thing.

i lit into him about being late and he shrugs his shoulders and says "what are you getting so upset about? it's not a big deal".

he wastes my time. not money. not property. my time.

and he says "not a big deal" ??? :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

few things really make me angry - but inconsiderate people who waste the time of others top the list!

Specializes in Lie detection.

ps: i had an argument with 13 year old cousin a few days ago. it was my day off and i was supposed to drop the brat off to school since his parents had to leave early for work. he saunters downstairs for breakfast 10 minutes late and leaves me with about 10 minutes to get him to school. it is do-able but it violates the principle of the thing.

i lit into him about being late and he shrugs his shoulders and says "what are you getting so upset about? it's not a big deal".

he wastes my time. not money. not property. my time.

and he says "not a big deal" ??? :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

few things really make me angry - but inconsiderate people who waste the time of others top the list!

oh my. but this is how they are growing up for some reason. and then they end up in the workforce and when a supvr. like smilingblueyes calls them on their behavior they act completely shocked.

co workers and supervisors should not have to finish raising these entitled ones. parents need to do a better job. i have a much younger sister and i constantly try to instill a good work ethic into her. she is 18 and not entitlement minded but doesn't exactly get it as far as time importance factors are concerned :o .

Seven mintues past your time to be there is late. If you are late x3 that is when you start your counseling. If you are late x7 in one year, they have grounds for termination.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

18yo culinary student son is up at 4AM to be at school by 6:15AM as desire/passion to become Chef so strong "nothing stopping him".

Great turnaround for child took 45 minutes getting dressed in AM grade school till 10th grade, still with shoe laces untied. Now he's the one prying older brother out of bed to catch train/drive to college.

Learning early and being held to adult work rules after HS graduation is the key.

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