Work Ethic

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raver

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I'm the office worker of a small company. I handle inside sales, customer support, engineering, purchasing, shipping, and handle several other responsibilities. The only aspect of the business side of the company that I'm not directly involved in is accounting.

I've developed a bad habit of being 5-10 minutes late every day. I'm still working 9 1/2 or more hours a day, five days a week. I just can't seem to shake the morning malaise to get an earlier start.

A: Is this a problem? And how big of one?
I think it is, otherwise I'd not be posting this on my break.

B: How do I fix this?
How do I motivate myself to get out the door that little bit earlier each morning?
 
I think you may have conned yourself into this situation. Your words..... "I handle inside sales, customer support, engineering, purchasing, shipping, and handle several other responsibilities." Maybe you feel since you are such a key member of this organization you don't have to rush right in there since nothing really gets started 'til you get there. Maybe you need to re-train yourself to not only being 5-10 minutes late, but get there 10-15 minutes early, then you can finish your work and be home earlier for a change and have more time for yourself. Simple matter to set the clock earlier. Wouldn't that be nice? Just a thought.
 
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In my experience, and I've been an HR (Human Resouces) manager for many years, everyone notices if you are in early by 5 - 10 minutes, or in late by 5 - 10 minutes. Which do you think is viewed in a more positive light? I've seen more than a few "indispensable" people lose their jobs over the past few years, and sometimes, the "little" things, like being late to work, not having the best customer service skills, etc., had an impact on who stayed, and who left. I was laid off of a great job in the aftermath of 9/11. Even with a graduate degree, many years of job experience, and an excellent name in the professional community, it took almost 2.5 years for me to find meaningful, full-time work. As I near retirement age, I've become very protective of my job. Sorry if I came off as being "preachy", but this is something that you can fix, and I think you should. I wish you the best of luck.

Regards,

Dave
 
It might be a huge problem, depending on your company policy and your boss. Some people hate tardiness.

Fixing it by waking up earlier. Set your alarm earlier so that by the time you come too you still have plenty of time.

My job sounds a little like yours. I do a lot of different things but my job atmosphere is very lax. I can be a little late or leave a little early. I can say today that I need to leave at noon without any prior notice and it's not a problem. I can take 6 months vacation and no one will care.

I'm always at work early. Like an hour and a half early. I hate traffic and I like to get settled in first. Read the news, have my coffee. ..

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Why would anyone want to create that kind of stress for no reason. I am amazed at people in the mornings rushing it, flipping off other drivers, running through the parking lot.
I like to get up a little earlier and take my sweet arse time rolling in, nice and easy, leisurely stroll through the parking lot, get coffee and start the day on time and stress free.
Try it, you will like it.
 
Are you paid by the hour, or salary? I've had bosses that didn't care if you left early, but you damn sure better be there on time. I've worked in a factory, where if you were late, that was a 1/2 day absence on your attendance record. That old "I'm not a morning person" don't hold water.
I've got your motivation right here.......YOU"RE FIRED!!!
 
I too used to be always late by just a little bit. After I met my wife she got into my business and set the alarm a half hour earlier and I started being early and more relaxed starting the day. I changed jobs where I started punching a clock and later my boss asked why I always got there early. I told him I just hated being late and he liked that answer and never said anything again.
I'd suggest trying the same thing as you'll like it I'm sure.
 
I always tell my guys "I'm 10 minutes early no matter what time I get here". :D

I tend to give them a little slack for 5-10 minutes in the morning if it isn't a regular occurrence. However, more than 15 minutes late without a call or text will get them a "notice" and probably get them the day off and could lead to their firing. They all know the drill and it seldom happens.

Generally speaking, my guys get their marching orders for the day first thing in the morning and are on the road asap. If someone is late and holds up a crew from leaving I get pretty hot.

I look at the big picture and overall performance and I think I'm quite fair with them and vice-versa. Some might say we lack structure, but I feel it's treating everyone like an adult until they give me reason to change. We generally run without too much drama.

Some companies put great emphasis on being late, leaving early, too long a lunch, etc. It's best to know what the guy who signs your check thinks!
 
When I used to punch a clock I was always early. I was to be there at 8 AM and usually got there about 20min. early.

When I left the house early I had plenty of time to do as I pleased. Most days I'd stop and do a little fishing on the way.

If I left at the last minute it always seemed to make me late.

It's nice to walk in the shop relaxed and ready to work. While the other guys were getting their coffee and wipeing the cobwebs out of their eyes i was cranking out the money. My numbers showed who was working and who was dragging arse.

3 years there and I only missed one day due to a cut that got infected. I told them if it didn't clear up over the weekend would go to the clinic on Monday. No problem.

Now I work for myself. I guess I better go make a buck,

In a little while. ;)
 
Brian41 said:
I too used to be always late by just a little bit. After I met my wife she got into my business and set the alarm a half hour earlier and I started being early and more relaxed starting the day. I changed jobs where I started punching a clock and later my boss asked why I always got there early. I told him I just hated being late and he liked that answer and never said anything again.
I'd suggest trying the same thing as you'll like it I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Exactly that ^

My work starts at 9. It's almost an hour drive if I leave my house on time. Lots of stop and go, plenty of lights and some slow people make it a nightmare. On top of that I hate stepping foot inside and right away there are 15 things to do. So instead I wake up at 6, walk my dog, eat breakfast and out the door by 6:45. At this point the drive is only 30 min, I stop for coffee and I'm at work by 7:30 with plenty of time to settle in and get my barrings straight for the day ahead. It's so much less stressful that way

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The key to getting up earlier is GO TO BED EARLIER...

As an added bonus you should windup healthy, wealthy, and wise :)
 
My public office (the public defender) opens at 8:30. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING pisses me off more than calling at 8:30 for someone and the person I am calling is not there yet. The reason I call at 8:30 on the dot when I call is because I NEED something RIGHT NOW-in other words an emergency-and I demand that the person I am calling be there. They are getting a full time salary for a 35 hour work week and I want them there for that 35 hours. I don't think it is unreasonable (in fact since it is public money I have an obligation to the taxpayer to demand) that I get a full week's work for a full week's pay.
While I'm at it another thing makes me mad and that is "It's not my job". You work for me and EVERYTHING is your job. I know what your supposed job responsibilities are and sometimes I need you to go outside . That is part of the job.
When I get too full of myself I remind myself that the cemetaries of the world are filled with indispensable people. EVERYONE including me can be replaced.

Work scared-always.
 
For me it was a matter of personal pride/reputation to be on time for work. For those who lack that kind of motivation, I'm not sure what other motivation replaces it other than being threatened by the boss with loss of employment, and even that has limited success. It's been my observation that people rise to their own expectations.
 
raver said:
I'm the office worker of a small company. I handle inside sales, customer support, engineering, purchasing, shipping, and handle several other responsibilities. The only aspect of the business side of the company that I'm not directly involved in is accounting.
Click to expand...

You've identified the problem. You're bored. You don't have enough responsibility. Not enough on your plate. Tell them you want to handle the accounting too. All of it, the whole kit and kaboodle. Payroll, everything. Also you may want to ask if you can advise them on investments and mergers.Just to cover yourself, let them know you'd like them to consider you for full partnership, so you can then sleep late if you want without retribution. If all of that fails, consider having an office affair. Before you can say "Jetson , you're FIRED!" You'll be whistling in the shower at 5 am.
 
A: Is this a problem? And how big of one?
I think it is, otherwise I'd not be posting this on my break.

B: How do I fix this?
How do I motivate myself to get out the door that little bit earlier each morning?
Click to expand...

A- it would be if you worked with or for me.

B- Get your *** out of bed 30 minutes earlier.
B,2- think unemployment.
 
Are you late for everything? Dinners, appointments, other personal stuff? Some people just are, for a wide variety of reasons. My mother was never on time for anything. Her funeral started late - seriously.

Waiting for her in my pre-driving years made me a fanatic about being on time myself.

If it's a habit for everything in your life, the only cure is like quitting every other habit - smoking, overeating, etc.; you've just got to do it. You've got the desire, and that's half the battle. Now for the hard half. Good luck.
 
It was always a point of pride for me to be there 10 to 15 minutes early. Never late, including coming back from breaks. I was always the first one in and the last one out.
I was always 100% or more productive and I always had the maximum raise and ratings come evaluation time. My bosses would say that they need more workers like me and I'll tell them to hire more Injuns and we'll go tribal on production.
Now that I'm on disability and do some leatherwork the same applies. When someone orders custom leather from me, I give them the best that I can for their money and I do my best to deliver it ahead of schedule.
You just need to get your draggy behind out the door earlier. Have some pride in yourself and get there 10-15 minutes early instead of 5-10 minutes late.
There's no magic formula just get up off your lazy butt and go.
 
If your work day starts at 8 AM that doesn't mean you can be walking in the door at 8 AM, it means seated at your desk answering the phone and doing your job. And being punctual is important in all aspects of our lives. I'll pick you up at 11 doesn't mean 11:15, I'll drop it off before 1 doesn't mean 1:30.
Every one of us develops a reputation within our working community and being punctual demonstrates responsibility, whereas being tardy shows a lack of that and brings into question other aspects of our lives. If I can't depend on someone to be on time, why should I depend on them for other things (such as honesty).
 
Work

Look at it as it were your business and look at how you would want your workers to act . If you are not happy leave. Listen to a Vince Lombardi motivational speech if it does nothing more you will be anywhere 5-10 min early . OldSeabee
 
I spent my career working in HR, for a very large telecommunications company. We had all sorts of work environments, from those that were strictly controlled (like call center employees, where it was imperative that a certain number of employees be available based on expected call volumes, so attendance and punctuality were critical factors) to very open environments, where the employees had "flex time" (they could start/stop work at hours of their own choosing, but they had to work a minimum of 8 hours; these typically didn't serve external clients.) So, as others have said, it depends on your company's attitude, environment, and expectations.

I was raised in a very strict environment (only child) where, among other things, my parents taught me that 15 minutes early was on time. My wife came from a very large family (7 children) where chaos reigned, and getting somewhere at all was an accomplishment to be celebrated...being on time was a foreign concept. Suffice it to say, we had a lot of adjustments to make, once we got married! I've learned over 35 years of marriage that she is just a chronically tardy person, and I've not been able to change her...plus she is disabled now, so it takes her much longer to get ready to go somewhere (and she has to go to a lot of doctor's appointments, physical therapy, etc.) I just tell her that her appointment is 30 minutes to an hour earlier than it actually is (I make all her appointments) so we are usually just about on time.

There are strategies that the chronically tardy person can use...but a question: are you late for everything, or just your job? If it's everything, you can get help, counseling, use strategies, etc. If it's just your job, then that points to some factor with your job that makes you reluctant to go. For many people, a job is a means to an end, and remaining employed is certainly a good reason in its own right...but if you can actually enjoy the work you do, that's a much better circumstance. Take a look at WHY you are always late...and address that.
 
Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, Challenger, Porsche, ect.
pitch the pickumup truck, minivan, SUV thing your currently lamenting and start looking forward to the morning commute
 
When I was working I always came in 20-30 minutes before my shift started. Most of the time I went directly to work but sometimes I had non-work related conversations with other co-workers who happened to be there. I always left on time. When someone wanted me to stay a few minutes late I always said that I was in the office early and if they needed to talk they could do it at that time. I avoided a lot of unnecessary conversations with managers who always came in later than staff and expected everyone to accommodate their schedule.

I was schooled at an early age to work a full day in return for a full days pay and show up on time. It served me well and I retired after 30 years with the same employer.

Of course things were different when I started working back in the 70's and attitudes about work have changed. One thing I have noticed in the last few years is not too many people really know how to work anymore. They are pretty casual about how much they do and when they do it.

If your employer is OK with your schedule I wouldn't worry too much about it. The problem is sometimes they never say anything and you get to be the expendable employee when they cull the herd.
 
The further I moved up the ladder at my job, the more concerned I became with setting an example and completing my work. My position involved supervising others in finance and IT as well as specific tasks I was entrusted with. By the time I retired as Manager of Finance and IT, I was getting in to work by seven and working through lunch. When I left before five, I considered it a short work day.
 
in the 16 years i have worked with my present employer, i have only been late twice...once because a train was stopped on the tracks in front of me. i waited on that train for 35 minutes, yet i was only 7 minutes late. the other time was when i was 120 miles away buying a new to me vehicle...everything was in order and i should have been to work in time. the dealerships detailing dept took their time cleaning the vehicle after all the paperwork was done. the decided it was break time in the middle. the salesman, knowing i had to be at work had the manager crack the whip on them. i still made it to work on time, but since i had called and told them i would be late, i took the time to eat as i had not eaten all day...i did not get a lunch break, i ate while the press was running and there have been many days when it is running well that i have gone 8 or 12 hours without eating anything...

now we are not allowed to punch in more than 7 minutes early. i am usually there no later than 25 minutes early, and sit in the break room. if i go on the shop floor without being on the clock, insurance would not cover any accidents.

late is never an option...
 
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Like quitting smoking, you just need to set your mind to do it.

Set the bar then go for it.


Pete
 
Best advice is to start eating dinner an hour earlier and get to bed at an earlier time. The better rested you are the easier it is to get up early. You might even start getting up at 5 a.m. and think it's 8 a.m. just by how rested you feel.
 
I agree with everyone who says to be early and not late. I look at it a little differently, if I am on time for something, I am already 15 minutes late. my wife doesn't like the way I do things because she if one of those that feels she is on time if she is walking through the door at the appointed time.
 
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