Employee tardiness is an ongoing problem for many businesses. It costs companies money in diminished productivity, reduced morale, and increased stress for the staff. More than one-quarter of employees report being late to work at least once per month. The most common reasons for being late include inclement weather, traffic, and oversleeping. While tardiness is sometimes unavoidable, chronic lateness is a problem managers need to address. The following steps can help improve employee promptness:
- Write a clear attendance policy. This may seem obvious, but not every employee handbook includes a section on tardiness. Many focus on sick days or vacation days without addressing arriving on time.
- Looks for professional conflicts. Sometimes employees are late because they are juggling too many tasks. Employees who attend college courses or have to take care of family responsibilities may need more time in the mornings. Implementing a flexible schedule allows employees to adjust their hours to a more manageable timetable. Accommodating an employee’s agenda can help improve their work-life balance and thus reduce their tardiness.
- Improve the company culture. If several employees are late on a regular basis, there may be a larger problem at play. If there is a toxic manager or aspect of the office that upsets employees, they aren’t going to make an effort to arrive on time. Taking steps to improve the work environment can reduce chronic tardiness.
- Reward good attendance. Employers expect employees to show up to work on time so rewarding this minimum may seem odd. However, positive reinforcement is usually more effective than negative actions. Consider offering a restaurant gift card or bonus vacation time to employees who have perfect attendance each quarter.
- Track employee attendance. Management can’t know an attendance problem exists or how bad it is without a system to track it. By keeping track of tardiness and absences, managers can address patterns of late arrivals before they become a habit.
Finding ways to reduce tardiness can improve productivity as well as the overall morale of the workplace. Contact the experts at Actec to learn more about managing employee attendance.