Recession improves punctuality at work: Survey

Fewer employees arriving late

Since the recession began, more workers are starting their workday on time, according to a CareerBuilder survey of 2,482 people in the United States. Fifteen per cent of workers said they arrive late to work once a week or more, down from 16 per cent in 2009 and 20 per cent in 2008.

"Whether it is a result of fear associated with the economy or just a shift in attitude, workers over the last few years are doing a better job of managing their schedules and getting into the office at the designated time," said Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “While workers will sometimes be late due to circumstances out of their control, they need to be aware of their companies’ tardiness policies. Regardless of the reason, workers who are running late should always be honest with their managers.”

While some employers are more lenient with worker tardiness, others have stricter policies. One-third (32 per cent) of employers said they have terminated an employee for being late, found the survey.

The top excuse for being late was traffic-related (30 per cent), followed by lack of sleep (19 per cent). Nine per cent blamed the bad weather for their tardiness while eight per cent indicated a delay in getting their kids to daycare or school. Other common reasons included public transportation, wardrobe issues or dealing with pets, said CareerBuilder.

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