by Angela S. Young

Created on: May 14, 2007   Last Updated: May 15, 2007

I grew up with a sister who was late to school EVERY day! Today they'd have had a truant officer after her. She's still that way. She likes to sleep, and is not a morning person. The simple truth about her lateness is that she didn't get to bed on time (or couldn't sleep) and she really didn't want to be at school.

Whenever people are chronically late for work, you know those people are chronically late for almost everything. It is a mentality that allows them to justify their actions. My middle son was also late to school almost every day. He also had trouble falling asleep and didn't want to get up in the morning. I did everything to get him up, but inevitably, he'd be late again. As he got older, he tried everything too, and still has problems being late to work more often than not.

My husband's family are all late to everything. When planning a family dinner, we tell them a time 2 hours before the time we really want to have the dinner. It is the only way to get them there on time! Annoying!

I've noticed several things people who are chronically late have in common. First, they usually are not morning people. This excuse doesn't work for people on other shifts, however, so we need another one.

Second, they usually have some kind of getting ready routine that is inflexible. Showers are a must and they must be 1/2 hour long. They just have to put on makeup or fix their hair.... When I am running behind, I cut my routine a bit and somehow the world goes on.

Third, they may be the kind of people who are 'doers'. My husband is one such. He gets up early and does a boat load of work before he even goes to work! He's always seeing one more thing he can get done, loses track of time, and boom, late again. Fortunately, he picks his own hours to a certain extent, but if he had a set time to be there, I guarantee he'd be flying in at least 5 minutes late most mornings.

Fourth, you may find 'chronic laters' who just don't see the need to be on time. This attitude is especially prevalent among those who have gotten away with it all their lives. They often use charm to disarm the person who would discipline them for their tardiness or the workplace... doesn't make a big deal about it.

Fifth, 'chronic laters' may be people with a poor sense of time or little organizational ability. They don't plan ahead, even knowing they have this problem, and before you know it, they're late again. They don't account for traffic and snow shoveling and all those little things that can add up to a late worker.

Sixth, no matter what their reason, they always have an excuse. My dog ate my keys; My kids just wouldn't hurry; I got stuck in traffic; My alarm didn't go off; I lost track of time; and on it goes ad infinitum.

Everyone is late on occasion, but 'chronic laters' have a real problem they should address. Besides being a bad work ethic, a good way to get fired, a way to make sure people are always mad at you, and a sign of a deeper problem, being chronically late is just inconsiderate of others. If you want to waste your time, that's your privilege, but it is not OK to waste my time, your families time, and even more, your companies time. There are many tricks people can use to get to work on time. The problem is not in the tricks, but in the mentality that justifies the lateness.

Chronic lateness in the work place is stealing. It is stealing time and money from the company you work for. It is a lack of respect for those you work with, who may need you there to begin their own work day. So, come on 'chronic laters', you can do it - get to work on time today.

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