• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • LOGIN
  • Law Office ManagerHOME
  • Book StoreBook Store
  • WebinarsWebinars
  • LOGIN
  • Manage Your Account
  •  
Law Office Manager

Law Office Manager

  • Hiring
  • Increasing profits
  • Technology
  • Billing
  • Managing staff
  • More! ⇩
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Time tracking
    • Client relations
    • Termination
    • Tool Box
    • Risk management
    • Recordkeeping
    • Cartoons
    • Reader tips
    • Purchasing & leasing
    • Marketing
    • Managing the office
    • Information security
    • Your career
    • Working with lawyers
    • Employee benefits
    • Compliance
    • Workplace Safety
  • Special Reports

“I forgot what day it was” no excuse for being late to work

December 4, 2023

It’s important to address any issues that may be affecting the productivity and efficiency of your medical office. Chronic tardiness can be a significant problem that can impact the entire office, so it’s important to address it in a timely and effective manner. Here are some steps you can take to address an employee who is consistently late for work:

  1. Set clear expectations: Make sure your employee is aware of the start time for their shift and any other expectations related to punctuality. It’s important that these expectations are communicated clearly so that there is no confusion or ambiguity.
  2. Identify the underlying cause: Talk to your employee to understand why they are consistently late. There may be personal or work-related factors that are contributing to their tardiness, such as transportation issues or family responsibilities. Listen to their concerns and try to work together to find a solution.
  3. Offer support: If your employee is dealing with personal issues that are affecting their punctuality, offer support and resources that may help them manage their responsibilities more effectively. For example, you may be able to offer flexible scheduling or suggest resources such as counseling or support groups.
  4. Implement consequences: If the employee’s tardiness is affecting the productivity or morale of the office, it may be necessary to implement consequences. Be clear about the consequences of continued tardiness, such as verbal or written warnings or other disciplinary action.
  5. Monitor progress: Check in regularly with your employee to see if they are making progress towards meeting their punctuality expectations. Be supportive and provide constructive feedback to help them improve.
  6. Celebrate success: If your employee makes significant improvements in their punctuality, make sure to acknowledge and celebrate their success. Positive reinforcement can help motivate employees to continue meeting expectations.

Remember, the goal is to help your employee improve their punctuality so that the entire office can operate more effectively. By taking a supportive and collaborative approach, you can help your employee overcome their tardiness and become a more reliable member of the team.

The dog ate my keys

While being late to work can have serious consequences, some people come up with unusual excuses for their tardiness. Here are some of the most outrageous excuses people have given for being late to work:

  1. My cat unplugged my alarm clock.
  2. I couldn’t find my shoes.
  3. I got lost on the way to work.
  4. My car got stuck in a mud puddle.
  5. My dog ate my keys.
  6. I had to wait for the rain to stop because I didn’t want to get my hair wet.
  7. My neighbor’s cows got out and blocked the road.
  8. My roommate locked me out of the house.
  9. I accidentally put my shirt on inside out and had to change.
  10. I got stuck in a slow-moving funeral procession.
  11. The power went out and my garage door wouldn’t open.
  12. I got a flat tire and had to wait for AAA to arrive.
  13. I was attacked by a swarm of bees.
  14. I forgot what day it was.
  15. My child threw up on me as I was leaving the house.
  16. There was a bear cub in the tree by the front door and an anxious mama bear on my sidewalk.

While some of these excuses may be legitimate, it’s important to remember that punctuality is an important aspect of professionalism and can affect the productivity and morale of the workplace. It’s important to communicate clear expectations and consequences for tardiness to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Filed Under: Topics, Managing staff, articles Tagged With: Managing staff, Productivity, Tardiness

Primary Sidebar

Free Reports

    • Guide to Advanced Hiring Techniques
    • Employee Morale in the Law Office
    • Workplace Bullying

Free Premium Reports

    • 7 Smart Cost-Cutting Strategies for Your Law Office
    • Guide to Advanced Hiring Techniques
    • Employee Morale in the Law Office
    • Workplace Bullying
    • 7 Proven Ways to Make Your Billing and Collections More Profitable
    • 7 Simple, Proven Steps to Hiring the Right Staff
    • 7 Policies Every Law Office Should Have

Download Current Issue

Current Issue

Recent Headlines

How Attorneys and Staff Can Improve Timekeeping Habits to Avoid Lost Revenue

Case File Organization Checklist for Law Office Administrators

Covering Cases and Crises: How Temp Staff Keep Your Law Office Moving

Make Every Minute Count: Best Practices for Year-End Timekeeping and Billing

Law Graduates of Color, First-Gen Students Lag in Jobs, Salaries Despite Strong Market

Your Career

How to Unplug from Work Over the Thanksgiving Holiday

What to Do If You’re the One Who’s Always Late

Big Changes: How to Navigate a Law Office Merger

Shifting Towards Alternative Fee Arrangements

Tick Those Unpleasant Tasks Off Your To-Do List

Deliver Your Message

Footer

Return to the Top

Download the Current issue
Monthly Magazine Archive
Advertise in Law Office Manager
Download Media Kit

Become a Premium Member
Download a Sample Issue of LOM
Renew your Law Office Manager Membership
Manage Your Account
Contact Law Office Manager
About Law Office Manager
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Give Us Feedback


Copyright © 2025 Plain Language Media, LLLP • 1-888-729-2315