How does your facility define "Lateness to work"

[NRSKarenRN]

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?

[SmilingBluEyes]

How do they deal with tardiness where I am? Not strongly enough, if you ask me. I mean, some things can't be helped, traffic accidents/jams, emergencies, even missing the alarm and sleeping too late on the rare occasion, but people who are chronically tardy should be dealt with!!!! Where I am, seems, everyone looks the other way. I just about am the only one who seems inclined to actually SAY something. Ugh.

[SmilingBluEyes]

PS like Roy, mark me down as one who arrives about 15 minutes early. I like to be early for a lot of reasons; to get myself together, get my water, settle myself, look at the board to see what's up on the unit--- and also I pick my own assignments, a distinct advantage to being there early. I do all this and then clock in, never having to rush. I hate being late and like I said, I WILL confront those who are chronically late myself with a "hey what's up, do you need to set your clocks earlier or something?" and I WILL rush report at them with all I have and tell them they are on MY time now. They may not like this, but oh well. My time is as precious to me as theirs may be to them.

[ginger58, ASN, RN]

Just terminate them. That's unacceptable by any standards. A hospital is a business and it needs to count on staff arriving on time. Our policy is 7 minutes. If you clock in at 0708 you don't get paid until 0715.

I was always told that one is to be ready to work at 0700.

[SICU Queen]

Our clock rounds from x:53 - x:07 to x:00, but we're considered late if we clock in at x:01. It's a respect thing, to me. I know the nurses I'm relieving want to go home, and me arriving 15 minutes late isn't fair to them.

What gets me are the ones who come in on time but have to grab coffee, visit, hug, exchange news, etc. Yesterday morning I was in the middle of report on a really sick fella, and the oncoming repeatedly interrupted me to shout out at other nurses. Finally I interrupted her and said "Are you done taking report from me? I want to go home." She said "Yeah, I'm done." but I knew she hadn't gotten near enough info from me and she'd never taken care of this patient before. I went to the daycharge and proceeded to give her report so that I could leave and so someone would have updated info on the patient. Unbelievable.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

For us, 1 minute past start of shift is considered late; however, for pay purposes, we don't get docked pay until 7min after start of shift. We're not supposed to clock in before 7min until shift start, but a lot of people do anyway and I can see the point, which is that they're clocking in to start their work -- getting their assignment, writing stuff up ahead of time, planning the shift as much as it can be planned. So far no one has said anything.

Anyway, I like to be there a few min ahead of time to put my stuff away, stock my pockets, etc. & not feel so rushed.