Employee Tardiness and Absences

Attending To Employee Attendance

A company cannot operate at its best when one of its employees is absent. Tardiness, while not as bad as an absence, also disrupts daily operations. Such instances must be dealt with properly by both sides—management and the employee. For management, you must learn how to implement proper policies and procedures regarding employee attendance; for the employee, you must know how to act responsibly by avoiding these problems, or at least helping management cope during your absence.

Tardiness. “Filipino time” is the most pathetic, not to mention insulting (towards the term “Filipino”) excuse for getting to work late. So is getting caught in traffic. If you know that there are instances when traffic can turn erratic, consider adjusting the time you wake up and leave the house.

The moment you feel that the traffic won’t let you get to work on time, call or send a message to your supervisor, inform them of the situation, apologize, and make sure it does not happen again (because at the end of the day, it’s not the collective fault of the PUVs around you that got you late. It’s because of you not wanting to get up and arrive early).

Absences. If you cannot avoid absences, inform your supervisor at least a day ahead, and not at the last minute. Emergency situations, such as needing to rush your family members to the hospital immediately, or a major disaster happening to your house, are excusable. But as much as possible, try to inform your supervisor as soon as you know you will not be able to get to work.

Your absence is not something to be taken lightly because you and your absence impede regular operations.

People have to cover for you so make sure that all your absences are justifiable. Better yet, ask for a half-day. Get to work as soon as you finish what you have to finish.

For meetings or events that you really cannot skip, file your absences properly weeks before the dates. Make sure to be observant of the days your company absolutely requires full attendance and make sure you are not absent that day. This could be during peak days, during inspections, or when a major project needs to be finished immediately.

Half-days. Working half-day is almost just as bad as being absent, but more tolerable. For days when you have to really be somewhere for personal matters, consider working for half a day instead of skipping the entire day. This way, you can at least help reduce possible damages and reduced output in your absence. Make sure that the half of the day you would be working is the half when you are really needed. If you know that the bulk of your work is in the morning, then get off from work in the afternoon, and vice versa.

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. C-4, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.