Valuable but not Punctual employee
How we handle an employee who is valuable but not punctual
Maintaining punctually and managing latecomers is the biggest challenge for all employers. Unpunctual can disrupt workflow, impact of the productivity and create tension among the team. However dealing with valuable employees who is unpunctual requires a strategic approach. That approach include clear communication and Kindness. Valuable employees are dedicated individuals who is using their experience , skills and also attitude to improve their performance as well as the organization. Existing experienced employees are beneficial to organizations because they can deliver quick work while becoming a powerful role model to their colleagues and co-workers. Being valuable employee, there are few ways can improve your standing in the workplace while certain desirable qualities
In this blog I will discuss actionable strategies to address and habitual lateness of the valuable employees.
1) Clarify the expectation of the organization and Regarding arrival
To minimize employee lateness in the organization, set clear expectation and communicate shift timing and disciplinary actions. Include this in to the company attendance policy since lateness can affect employment. inform habitually late employees of an organization attitude on punctually and the cost of non compliance. provide facts about lateness date and time for better communications.
It’s not uncommon for employees to arrive to work late — and depending on the role they play in your company, that’s not always a big deal. However, chronic tardiness sets a bad example and can seriously impact productivity.(M Sanfilippo, 2023)
2) Be open to listening to the reason and providing assistances if required
One of the best ways to become a better leader is to focus on how you listen to employees. Active listening creates space for employees to voice their opinions on business decisions and actions, creating an environment of improved employee morale and engagement.(M D'Angelo, 2023)
Sometimes there may be valid reasons why he or she is late regularly. Before take the action employer should ask the root cause of the lateness. Employer can introduce flexible time schedules for employees, which always people to care for others, such as dropping their kids off at school and much more. As long as employees are completing their work, they can start within reasonable business hours.
3) Appreciate them when their behavior is improved.
If we notice an improvement in their behavior, we can appreciate at the same time. We must do this privately. Acknowledgement is one of the great motivator and when you compliment the employee for dropping their lateness, you support their positive behavior. As a leader we can select yearly or monthly rewards to the employees. There is a psychological impact to the valuable employees to build their punctuality since when they receiving awards their co workers also see this. This approach can encourage the late employees to do the works on time.
4) Respect a person's privacy and do not embarrass them
Employer always have difficult discussions in private. If we tell this to employee in public, he or she get embarrassed. Do not embarrassed them. No matter how frustrated you are. Explain the concerns. Highlight why it is important their punctuality and the negative impact of the lateness to the organizations and other employees. Allow your employees to respond and explain if there is a reason.
5) Create employee Engagement committee
An employee engagement committee is a group of company employees who spend a portion of their work time improving their employer’s connection with its employees. (S Tsang, 2022)
Employee engagement committee can improve the bond of the team. Employee engagement committee is one of the tool for any organizations. It can helps that employees engaged and satisfied with their work and the organizations. Ultimately this helps to improve morale, increase the organization productivity , punctuality for the successful business.
Punctually should be a part of our culture.......
List of References
M Sanfilippo(24th
October 2023)arrive to late work [Online] Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7725-employees-late-for-work.html
[Accessed on 21st
November 2023]
M
D'Angelo (23rd October 2023) listing to employee [Online] Available
at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1934-leadership-listening-employee-input-initiative.html
[Accessed on 21st November 2023]
S
Tsang (20th September 2022) employee engagement committee is [Online] Available at: https://www.fond.co/blog/employee-engagement-committees
[Accessed on 21st November 2023]
5 for the lateness before you take actions. Don't do it without thoughtful plan and one to one meeting. create a action plan to pmprove the punctulity.
Hello Mahesh. Good discussion. Employee Engagement heavily depends on the empathy shown towards the employees. And of course I think Sri Lankans are not handling this issue in an empathetic way in most institutes. This ultimately becomes a catalyst to the employee turnover too.
ReplyDeleteYes Kalpa agree. Further I would like to say Valuable employees are asset to the organization and main point is to retain them. organization's success depends on retaining a skilled and talented team. why do people want to leave their jobs? A study by business consultancy Achieve has identified that the top three reasons are: Lack of recognition for their achievements , Lack of recognition for their achievements , Infrequent growth and development opportunities. According to my view the key to retaining your employees is to increase their engagement.
DeleteGood Article Mahesh,
ReplyDeleteEmployers should set clear standards for punctuality and communicate them consistently. This involves defining the rules precisely, applying them consistently, and imposing reasonable and consistent penalties for being late. Employers can promote a work environment where employees respect each other's time and are punctual by maintaining consistency in their approach.
The workplace environment has a significant effect on your organization overall productivity. Recent research indicates that 89 percent of people waste time at work every day, with the top 10 percent wasting over three hours. Think of that lost productivity and potential. Some peoples use working hours to checking social media, texting friends etc. if we can avoid these things, we can maximize productivity.
DeleteFurthermore, Employee engagement committees enhance team bonds and satisfaction. Engaged employees are more likely to value punctuality as part of a positive work culture, ultimately boosting morale and productivity.
ReplyDeleteRather a challenging area to tackle. But a very important and a must dealt aspect of workplace culture as accountability, discipline and order also impacts the new employees and future generations. (Interns, trainees,etc.)
ReplyDeleteCompany culture impact to sales, profits, recruiting efforts and employee morale. A great company culture attracts people. company culture has the ability to ensure that employees remain satisfied with their jobs and loyal to the organization. Employees may find it challenging to separate work and personal time, leading to reduced quality of life and potential conflicts with family and friends, Health problems, Long working hours will be the effects to personal lives.
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ReplyDeleteA good topic to discuss. Most successful organizations set goals for each employee and do not emphasize punctuality in a strict manner. From the organization's perspective, it is more important to achieve each employee's goals rather than strictly adhering to their punctuality in terms of time slots. Do you agree with me?
ReplyDeleteNiluka I don’t agree with you. There are some companies set goals for each employee and do not emphasize punctuality in a strict manner. However when we look most successful companies in the world they are always punctual. They know the value of the time. Each and every second has a value. Hence it is a must to be punctual if we need to grow.
DeleteGood topic to discuss Mahesh, Dealing with an employee who is valuable but not punctual can be a challenge as you want to address the issue without losing a valuable asset to your team
ReplyDeleteYes Chamila. Valuable employee is like a mirror of the organization. Most of the valuable employees are engaging in the organization several years and if we lose them, it is a huge impact to the organization.
DeleteA nicely complied article discussing on a good point. Nevertheless, Yes it may be quite valuable some organizational contexts like customer service industry etc. But I strongly feel that insisting on punctuality is not required across the board in all organizational structures.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Muditha. It depend with the organization culture. Some functional areas need Punctuality and some do not required Punctuality.
DeleteNice article, as explained we can find compromise by finding the cause, and providing solution for it further in modern era not all jobs required to be on time since the world is changing to remote working and AI working Culture, While in 2019, an average of 7% of were worked remotely, this climbed to 28% by September 2023 (WFH Research, 2023) In 2023, remote workers reported that there are certain things that are easier to do when remote – especially focusing on work (70% of respondents), managing stress and time (65%), and avoiding distractions (50%) (Buffer, 2023)
ReplyDeleteThe world is changing to remote working and AI working Culture. Agree with you. However, what is your idea about the fact that the people who design, develop, and interact with AI do operate within the framework of time and deadlines? Punctuality is important to them or not? I think if we input data on time, which is ultimately vital for reliable AI performance.
DeleteVery relevant post, primarily for organizations in our country, as many of our citizens are often late even though they are good at their duties. Adding more to the valuable points you have mentioned I would like to say that Using tools like productivity apps, calendars, and reminders to assist people in setting priorities and organizing their workload might be some other strategies we can implement. A more time-conscious and accountable mindset can be established by providing regular criticism and encouragement, which strengthens the importance of punctuality.
ReplyDeleteYes, the comment is agreeable.
DeleteHi Mahesh, Very good article, and agree with you.Need to add something to you, the key is to find a balance between acknowledging the employee's value and addressing the issue of tardiness in a way that's fair and productive for both parties.
ReplyDeleteMaking your employees feel valued is not only a nice thing to do, but also a smart business move. When employees feel appreciated, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal.
DeleteNice article, my personal thought is if the work is done on time, there is no need to worry about the punctuality of the individual. with new technologies and remote working platforms, punctuality will be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your statement Dushantha. Technology can create new industries and jobs, such as in software development, data analysis, and cyber security. Technology has opened up opportunities for remote work and flexible arrangements. It has expanded access to job opportunities beyond geographical limitations and provided a better work-life balance for many individuals. Moreover, technology has enhanced collaboration and communication, enabling teams to work together seamlessly, regardless of their physical location.
DeleteThis is an interesting post. Handling a good employee who gets late is a challenge. As a sales head this is a problem with a few of my team members. Exceptionally great at their sales numbers but have the tendency to get delayed and I agree with you while this can be an occasional situation cannot be as a result of tardiness. Therefore to get the best out of the situation I have created a balance that would work for them and me, I feel as long as we can device a mechanism that would work for both parties then we should be good.
ReplyDeleteYes Rehana we have to handle these types of employees very carefully . Late employees can reduce business productivity.
DeleteAgreed , This is a personal experience for myself even, And yes being not punctual is not to be tolerated , but if the organization can plant a mechanisms like flexi hours to the workflow, On field monitoring systems , It will result a good outcome for both employee and organization.
ReplyDeleteEmployer can introduce flexible time schedules for employees, which allows people to care for others, such as dropping their kids off at school and much more. As long as the employees are completing their work, they can start within reasonable business hours.
DeleteYour blog provides actionable strategies and a well-rounded perspective on addressing punctuality issues within the context of valuable employees. The emphasis on maintaining a positive culture and considering the diverse needs of employees is commendable. Punctuality, indeed, should be an integral part of organizational culture, and your blog provides valuable insights on how to achieve this.
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