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.
I remember being in my first semester of nursing school/clinicals, and also taking A&P II and Microbiology concurrently. I averaged 3-4 hours of sleep at night, and started hallucinating small animals scurrying across our living room.
Some of these stories are giving me a stomach ache and sweaty palms! Deciding to give your dog a bath ten minutes before you have to leave for work? Knowing that it takes 15 minutes to get to work and leaving exactly 15 minutes before you start? OMG, I"m getting stressed out!
Seriously! Maybe I am just a control-freak and proud of my punctuality because I just cannot fathom how some people are ok with being chronically late. Once in a while, whatever, it happens to the best of us. I used to fire people for 3 tardies in a row (cut off was 1 min after your clock-in time). I am embarrassed if I show up at 9:01when I was supposed to be there at 9:00. I'm outright mortified if it's any longer than that.
I was always taught that if you're on-time, you're already late, so I always show up to work at least 15 minutes early. As a result, many of my employers find me pretty damn reliable, even in inclement weather. I always make it in on time, and I like that I have that reputation. To others, that kind of reputation isn't important (or as important). I live for routine, and I understand that there are people that just can't live like that.
I once hired a girl who showed up late to the FIRST DAY OF WORK. I sent her right home and told her to give it another try the next day. Within a week, she was terminated. I need dependable people, not people who I have no idea when, or if, they're going to bother showing up to their shift.
I am not going to bother trying to change people who are not as anal-retentive about time as I am but I will not keep it too myself if it becomes chronic.
For the ones who are habitually late, and who can not manage their time, maybe you should find a salaried position with flexible hours.
Don't make your problem my problem.
I will charge for overtime and under comments put "dayshift nurse was late."
The person responsible for payroll will investigate the number of occurences and management will follow through.
I rarely do this, but when I do, in a week or two, that person starts appearing on time, usually complaining loudly about how unfair it is that they are in progressive disciplinary action.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
As someone with ADHD and LD Sometimes I'm amazed that I get out of the house, myself. If only neurotypical people could spend one day in my head, they would see It's no fun at all, and it's not a joke or something to be taken lightly, either. There is still this stigma that ADHD isn't a real condition, which drives me insane. Yes, it's manageable, but there are varying degrees and no two people are the same. What works for some may not work for others. (Just throwing that out there, I know not everyone or even most have this opinion)
When life isn't so chaotic and I have a sort of normal routine, I can manage to be on time for work and I make 75% of my appointments, but sometimes there is so much work and effort that goes into it. It is what it is, It makes me who I am, but there are days that I wish I didn't have to race the clock.
Imagine what it would be like if you couldn't tell time. You looked at the clock, but didn't know what it said. You have to ask someone what time it is and how long you have left until it's time to leave. That's pretty much what it's like, and it sucks.
In this modern world where everything runs on a schedule I guess you have to try harder to show up on time.With mod cons like cell phones I am thinking it would be easier then ever to set timers for tasks throughout your day.The kinds of things people with dementia do in the early stages.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
LOVE IT!!!
For the ones who are habitually late, and who can not manage their time, maybe you should find a salaried position with flexible hours.
Don't make your problem my problem.
I will charge for overtime and under comments put "dayshift nurse was late."
The person responsible for payroll will investigate the number of occurences and management will follow through.
I rarely do this, but when I do, in a week or two, that person starts appearing on time, usually complaining loudly about how unfair it is that they are in progressive disciplinary action.
In this modern world where everything runs on a schedule I guess you have to try harder to show up on time.With mod cons like cell phones I am thinking it would be easier then ever to set timers for tasks throughout your day.The kinds of things people with dementia do in the early stages.
That's how I'm able to be on time when I am on time. ;-)
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.
Sorry, I think that's a load of baloney. It's not innate character or beyond their control. They've discovered they can get away with it. Plain and simple. People tolerate it, accept their excuses. They are not penalized. You can bet if they were penalized (loss of money, loss of job, etc.) they'd find a way to be on time. And I bet if it's important to them personally they can be on time (like their own kid's school program, doctor's appointment, hair appointment, etc.). You aren't important. So they don't care if they are late.
How do I know you ask? Because I'm one of those people. I can run chronically late. But when it's important (work, the doctor, i.e., something important to me), miracle! I can be on time.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
How do I know you ask? Because I'm one of those people. I can run chronically late. But when it's important (work, the doctor, i.e., something important to me), miracle! I can be on time.
But you are not everyone, and your reasons for being late (or not) are not everyone's.
There are many reasons for chronic tardiness, from "don't give a ****" (which is what you are saying is your issue) to things like difficulty with executive functioning, to chronic health issues (such as IBS).
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
But you are not everyone, and your reasons for being late (or not) are not everyone's.
There are many reasons for chronic tardiness, from "don't give a ****" (which is what you are saying is your issue) to things like difficulty with executive functioning, to chronic health issues (such as IBS).
Chronic health issues may qualify an employee for FMLA which can be taken intermittently .People with significant disabilities may also be protected.I am not talking about those people.I am still not convinced that my chronically late peers have any type of disability....they just don't put forth an effort to come to work on time.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Chronic health issues may qualify an employee for FMLA which can be taken intermittently .People with significant disabilities may also be protected.I am not talking about those people.I am still not convinced that my chronically late peers have any type of disability....they just don't put forth an effort to come to work on time.
And that may very well be the case of your coworkers. But the poster to whom I was responding said that in all cases, it's just a matter of "don't give a ****" because that's what it is in HER case.
But you are not everyone, and your reasons for being late (or not) are not everyone's.
There are many reasons for chronic tardiness, from "don't give a ****" (which is what you are saying is your issue) to things like difficulty with executive functioning, to chronic health issues (such as IBS).
Chronic health issues don't automatically make one chronically tardy. Actually, learning to live with such diseases includes learning to plan ahead as much as possible. Which might mean that YES
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.
/sigh...
I report to RN's that are chronically late daily almost every day of the week. Sometimes it's difficult to simply accept, especially when our unit is notorious for getting out late in the morning.
The MOST ironic part is the same co-workers who are chronically late also demand to be able to leave on time.
As a former general manager for 9 years with 15 years management experience, I will tell you that people who are chronically late, will many times also lose their job over it as many are simply incapable of being on time for whatever reason.
I chalk it up as none of us are perfect and I'm sure other people complain about one of my habits so live and let live I guess.
Glycerine82, LPN
1 Article; 2,188 Posts
HaHaHaHa Totally done that!