Do You Pay Attention to Your Co-Workers' Tardiness?

September 29, 2008

About 40 percent of you say you make judgments about your co-workers' food choices, but do you pay attention to their tardiness?

A friend of mine recently confided that she's been tracking when her co-worker arrives in the office after she noticed he shows up nearly an hour late each day.

Apparently, he stays at the office late and is paid on salary, but his tardiness bothers her because she too works hard and still arrives on (or before) the expected hour.

Where do you stand on watching your co-workers' clock?

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39 Comments

TidalWave 3 years 37 weeks

where's the "no" option????!!

dani17731 3 years 37 weeks

I noticed because I worked in public service, and when those doors opened, whoever was on desk first had to be ready (I worked in a library). I always noticed that the people who didn't have to be on desk first (since I always was!) were 5-15 minutes late every day, sometimes 30. It got to the point where my boss asked me to take the first desk since I was the only one there on time.

KJ1185 4 years 22 weeks

It's just me and the boss so I'm always the first one in the office. He's an attorney so if he has court I never know what time he'll get in and he will never know what time I showed up...unless he tried to call. I guess I can get away with being late.

True Song 4 years 33 weeks

Yes, it drives me nuts, especially when it's someone on my team. Not being on time is disrespectful. Also, I don't see any vicious comments, but maybe they got deleted...?

thelorax 4 years 33 weeks

I notice, but it doesn't bother me or anything. It's not like I'm going to rat them out. I'm one of the more punctual people in the office, but we all cover for each other. It's not a problem as long as everyone gets their work done and is at work when they NEED to be.

skigurl 4 years 33 weeks

why did my last comment get deleted?

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 33 weeks

Marcella- "I'm also sure you don't share that you keep track of them because you probably wouldn't be very popular at work for running to your boss every time one of your co-workers is 5 min. late" 5 to even 10 minutes late, is understandable because stuff happens, I only keep track of the HABITUAL 10,20 up to 30 minutes late people. Its not extreme to keep track if them being late causes me to have to take thier calls and that makes me fall behind on my work. SugarKat- "I would be upset if I had CaterpillarGirl as a co-worker. It's my job to worry about me. If MY work's not getting done, then it's MY bosses job to worry about me. Mind your own business" It IS your job to worry about you, it is also your job to do...your job, if someone is habitually late I am gong to make sure my company isnt suffering for their blase attitude.(and dont think i am sitting around with a frikkin stopwatch, all I am doing is covering my own a$$ for when the Sup comes down on my department for running behind and asks why, again...accountability and ethics)My supervisor asked me to keep an eye out for the latecomers, she doesnt want people cheating on payroll, which in turn hurts this company and myself, hence its MY BUSINESS.

syako 4 years 33 weeks

I don't why people feel the need to be vicious in comments. Just say what you do and don't attack others. :shrug: Everyone has very personal work situations and it's hard to judge whether or not you'd act the same way. :oy:

baybug 4 years 33 weeks

I don't really care! Just as long as it doesn't effect me.

ilanac13 4 years 33 weeks

OMG - this is one of my PET PEEVES!!! i'm always at work early and i usually notice (ok, ALWAYS notice) when people come in late. it really frustrates me because i know that it's my choice to come in early, but then i'm expected to stay just as late as everyone else even when i've been there just as long...and yes we all get paid salary, but it's still not fair. my boss NEVER gets to work before 945 and that's one of the most frustrating things of all..but i guess she's the boss so she can do what she wants.

hkdkat 4 years 33 weeks

I always feel bad when I come in late, but I'm not late as my boss lets me start my work day at home so I can miss traffic...but if other co-workers don't notice that I've already been online, it looks like I stroll in at 11 and leave at 4!

neverecho 4 years 33 weeks

I don't see why it should matter what hours a person works as long as they get the job done. There are plenty of people who work 40 hours a week, 8 - 5, but get nothing done. Don't think that their co-workers and bosses don't notice that either...

lizs 4 years 33 weeks

I would never talk about it at the office, but I sure do notice that two people on my team never put in more than about 31 hours a week, probably less if you include the two+ hour lunches. We're a tight team, so it gets pretty obvious when you need something and you can NEVER find the person who is supposed to help. I don't care if they're physically present in the office or not, but it's rude and unprofessional to let your team down all the time!

bluebird 4 years 33 weeks

Beyond the fact that I'm the kind of person who considers being on time to work the same as being late, I definitely notice when my coworkers are tardy. As a waitress, I absolutely HATE it when I cover three or four tables in a late person's section and then, when they saunter in the door fifteen minutes late, they have the balls (ta-tas?) to ask me to hand over those tabs!

sweetpeabrina 4 years 33 weeks

I can't tell if ppl are coming in late or not (the building is huge) but I do know who is late to a meeting or doesn't show up at all!

cubadog 4 years 33 weeks

The VP of my company is a friend and I am the only one he trusts in our small office. I can totally see where catapiller is coming from. When he is out of town he asks me to let him know if anything weird is going on. Coming late, leaving early, etc.

SugarKat 4 years 33 weeks

I notice, but don't care. We all have our own deal that we need to put in our 40 hours a week, but don't really have structured schedules. I would be upset if I had CaterpillarGirl as a co-worker. It's my job to worry about me. If MY work's not getting done, then it's MY bosses job to worry about me. Mind your own business.

LaurenG22 4 years 33 weeks

If I worked on a salary I don't think it would really matter. If I was hourly, then you better believe I would tell on him :bossy:

tina_marie 4 years 33 weeks

I notice, but don't especially care. That is mainly because where I sit there are only a few of us and we are all friendly so if someone is late - then we notice

gemsera 4 years 33 weeks

Every workplace is different. In my workplace we work around the globe, so everyone works different hours which is nice. Sometimes we have calls with the US at 6 or 7pm or the testers in India are in before us. No one minds who comes and goes whenever. Which is nice :)

brown_eyed_grrl 4 years 33 weeks

@skigurl--I come in at 7:30, and my boss comes in at 8:30. Maybe I could get away with coming in late, but then there's that chance that my boss will be early, not to mention that I said I'd be in at 7:30, and that's what I stick to. Maybe it makes sense for me to come in at 8:30 when my boss arrives, and to leave when she leaves, but I don't set the office policy, and as long as they're fine with the hours I've set, I don't see the problem.

skigurl 4 years 33 weeks

to add to this, i also notice when the same people call in sick mondays and fridays and are constantly taking holidays, personal days, family related days, and volunteer days! some people work harder than others, that's a fact...and it's worth noting so you know who is useless and who is a hard working individual! no shame in that! of course, just because others slack, doesn't mean i do, and you always have to be alert to your own habits because they're noted and you will be rewarded in good time for your good habits

brown_eyed_grrl 4 years 33 weeks

Where is the option "No, I mind my own business"? All of the responses in the survey are some form of "yes" or "other." I'm one of the first people into work because I like to come in early and leave early, but no, I don't track when my coworkers arrive. That is between an employee and his or her direct supervisor, and it's none of my business. For those who judge their coworkers, just remember that you don't know what is going on in someone else's life, and maybe one day it will be YOU who needs some understanding.

skigurl 4 years 33 weeks

don't get all down on CaterpillarGirl! i totally agree with her mentality! why should i be on time when other people are slacking like crazy? and if your boss is ASKING for you to keep track, there's nothing wrong with that. it's only ratting if its unsolicited! i understand some places have flexibility. my office is one of them. but i find it hard to believe people stay til 6 if they come in at 10, when no one is here to monitor that...same way that i find it hard to believe people come in at 7 when their boss isn't here til 9...it just makes good sense that people could come in relatively at the same time PLUS when someone comes in late all the time, it makes it hard to get your work done. when my secretary rolls in at 10, but i need something at 8:45, it's rough knowing the work is just sitting there

marcella 4 years 33 weeks

Yikes, CaterpillarGirl! I would not want to work at your place of employment! I'm also sure you don't share that you keep track of them because you probably wouldn't be very popular at work for running to your boss every time one of your co-workers is 5 min. late. That's pretty extreme, in my humble opinion!

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