Regarding chronic tardiness

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 14, 2015

Do you believe it is some kind of disorder that can't be helped? I have a few in my family and also work with a particular nurse with this issue.Apparently she just has a different set of rules then the rest of us,.....

JWG223 · Feb 14, 2015

I always clock in on time. However, certain people define "on time" differently than HR does. I go by HR, and ignore nasty E-mails, because when someone goes to HR...HR is going to play by THEIR rules. There is no weight behind the complaints about clocking in before HR mandates it, but later than someone else would PREFER.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

Do you believe it is some kind of disorder that can't be helped? .

I think that possibly it might be in some individuals.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I always clock in on time. However, certain people define "on time" differently than HR does. I go by HR, and ignore nasty E-mails, because when someone goes to HR...HR is going to play by THEIR rules. There is no weight behind the complaints about clocking in before HR mandates it, but later than someone else would PREFER.

I'm not sure what this has to do with my OP. The providers with whom I have frustration are salaried and do not have to clock in. And if their first appointment of the day is at 0810, and they are coming into the clinic at 0825, the issue is more than simply my PREFERENCE.

JWG223 · Feb 14, 2015

I'm not sure what this has to do with my OP. The providers with whom I have frustration are salaried and do not have to clock in. And if their first appointment of the day is at 0810, and they are coming into the clinic at 0825, the issue is more than simply my PREFERENCE.

Contact HR. Let them handle it.

Are you HR? Then there should be a policy in effect which could, eventually, lead to their termination. You now have to decide: Should you enforce it, or is it more costly to enforce it than to "let it ride"? Your call, you balance the budget.

I am a nurse.

Not a lawyer.

Not a doctor.

Not an HR manager.

Until I am paid to perform the above functions, when something falls under their purview, I contact said party and let them do THEIR job. That is my advice in this situation.

Regarding "why people do this"?

Well, it's just not terribly important to them to be somewhere on time. They typically feel that as long as the work is done, they are good to go. Sometimes this is true, sometimes not. It likely stems from lack of organization which can be found throughout their lives. Why do some people let themselves get fat? Why do some people not maintain their vehicles or homes? Why? Well, complex reasons far too lengthy for a chat forum, IMO, and individually varied.

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

The thread in the nursing student forum about people who are always late got me thinking.
I am chronically early for everything. If I'm not 10 minutes early for an appointment, work, whatever, then I start to get anxiety. So I have a hard time relating to those who are temporally challenged. And I know that there are people who are ALWAYS late. I work with half a dozen providers, and one or two are like me (always there 15 minutes before start time), a couple get there right at start time, and there are 2 or 3 who are ALWAYS 10-20 minutes late for their first appointment of the session (and it drives me farking nuts, because the chronic late ones are my favorite providers and they ask me to go to lunch with them, and if I accept, then *I* will be late for my first appointment of the afternoon session, which is exactly what happened yesterday).
I know that sometimes it's just poor (or lack of) planning. But I've come to suspect that for some people, it's just part of their innate character, and that's what I want to try to understand better, so that I can better work with these people (and not show my intense annoyance). I really do think that sometimes, it's just beyond their control.
So for those of you who are temporally challenged, or love someone who is, help me understand what happens in their brains that make them this way, so I can be a more understanding coworker/supervisor.

But how can it be beyond their control??! This is one of my pet peeves also. How can folks who are so accomplished in other areas of their lives be so out of control in this one area?

I have several friends who are therapists. They ALL agree with the premise that chronic tardiness is a statement. It's a control issue. One goes so far as to fire a client who is late for 2 sessions in a row.

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 14, 2015

I think that possibly it might be in some individuals.

I am not convinced .I guess it could be a symptom of some personality disorder,it really makes a strong statement.To me it says " my time and activities are way more important then yours" and " I will get there when I get there,I don't give a crap what anyone says or feels about it"

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I'm not convinced either, but I'm willing to be convinced if given compelling info. That's why I was hoping to hear from some chronically tardy people. I would like to understand what goes on in their head, and why THEY think they are chronically tardy?

dream'n, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I took a class in Myers-Briggs awhile ago. The Ps (such as xxxP) tend to have the worst time concept and have a tendency to be more tardy. It is part of their makeup, BUT they can learn to be on time and make it habit if they put conscious effort into it. Ps also tend to be more disorganized and sort of free-flowing. BUT again they just need to recognize these aspects of themselves and put more effort in it.

Libby1987 · Feb 14, 2015

I am chronically late and it sure doesn't come from a place of not giving a crap.

At the end of the day (literally) I have highly satisfied clients and managers. And my providers appreciate not having to play phone tag with me.

How does it happen? Part personality, part IBS, but it's mostly because I take calls and address issues as they come from a customer satisfaction perspective. It's not that I don't give a crap or am trying to passively aggressively control everyone, it's because I triage some calls over the waiting protime or routine dressing change appt.

I do take measures to minimize the perception of lateness with widening the window a la the cable guy.

Some would say that I'm too available but the results speak for themselves. Slay away.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I'm not interested in criticizing. I truly am trying to understand better.

I don't understand what you mean by "the providers appreciate not having to play phone tag with me." How is that associated with tardiness or lack thereof?

What is your nursing role? (I assume something in home health?) Have you ever worked inpatient or in a facility where you were expected to be there at a specific time, and if so, how did you manage that?