The Costs of Chronic Lateness
You know that person that comes into work 20 minutes late every day, keeps you waiting at the restaurant and interrupts church by trying to find a seat during the prayer?
That’s me.
I am chronically late.
I don’t do it to piss you off, because I think my time is more valuable than yours or because it gives me some kind of power trip. I actually hate being late.
The problem is, I don’t like being early either.
Lateness is a problem I’ve struggled with my whole life. My parents were always late, I’m always late, and I admit that I often don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
But tell that to my high school aerobics teacher who gave me detentions for it, my old boss at the bank who told me that being late could keep me from getting a big raise someday (so far it hasn’t), and the annoying morning people at my work who think it’s a sin for me to be more than two minutes late (but who also think that it’s OK for them to leave early, take half-hour personal phone calls and go to the gym during work hours).
I have to admit, however, that there are some financial costs associated with being chronically late. Like these, for example:
- Speeding tickets - I’ve only had one, but my husband has not been so lucky. He once had three in a three-month period. When I’m late, I am much more likely to speed.
- Missed appointment fees - Since I don’t get home from work until after 6:00 p.m. and work far away from my home, I have to schedule my appointments early in the morning. This is not a good thing. A few years ago, I had to go to physical therapy for my shoulder three times a week. Getting there by 7:45 a.m. was tough, and sometimes I had to cancel because I didn’t wake up in time. After the first few incidents, I started getting charged missed appointment fees, and my physical therapy came to an abrupt end.
- Getting fired or missing out on a raise - As I mentioned earlier, most of my bosses have been pretty flexible with my problem because I’m such a good employee otherwise. But I have had at least one instance where my lateness affected my pay. Back when I worked in retail, there was an employee incentive that if you were only late two times between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’d be paid an extra 25 cents an hour (or something like that). Well, I busted my ass to get to work on time because I was broke. I was only late once. However, they counted me as being late two other times - once because I was late after getting lost on the way to work coming from the company Christmas party at another store location (!), and once because they called and asked me to come in for someone who had called in sick and I told them I could probably be there by 4:00 but was actually in a few minutes after that (!!). I didn’t get the incentive money and, boy, was I TICKED!
- Late pick-up fees - This one doesn’t affect me too much, because my husband usually picks up my stepson from school, but parents are charged $1 for every minute they are late in picking up their child from the after-school program. We’ve probably paid about $30 for this over the last four years.
I’ve tried a lot of things to break my habit, but here’s one that might actually work: charging myself money when I am late. But, as Idub pointed out in a comment about going to the gym, that money would have to be donated to charity or something, otherwise I’d be snowflaking (and who doesn’t love that)!
(This post was included in the Money Hacks Carnival, hosted by Quest For Four Pillars.)
Photo Credit: my favorite t-shirt by Johnn P, used under Creative Commons licensing
11 responses so far
I am always early - my parents always were and I always am. It does have disadvantages too, Imagine all that time that I have stood at the bus stop or railways station - for between 15 and 60 minutes because I was so early.
My wife and I are at odds over lateness and on-time-ness. I am nearly always 15-30 minutes early, and she runs anywhere from 0-15 minutes behind schedule at any given point. Hadn’t really considered any monetary implications, however!
-Zachary
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Being 20 minutes late to work even once would give me a whole lot of free time. You know, because I’d be fired. Once I made the horrible mistake of leaving work 4 minutes early. The very next morning I was treated to 20 minutes of getting yelled at by my bosses boss. It was quite unpleasant.
So I’d say consider yourself lucky for having such a laid-back workplace.
My dentist used to be 20-30 min late for his first appointment of the day. Since I had to take time off from work I waited for him to show and do the work. The third time I told him that I should charge him…….he gave me a funny look and said that he had to have breakfast with his family. The fourth time I walked out of his office after signing a records release form ……….
Well, I’m glad I’m not a dentist
I work in an office where I’m an individual contributor, and I don’t work with the public. Therefore, my lateness usually doesn’t affect anyone else as long as I get my work done.
I understand that people who are always early or on time get frustrated with people like me, but I can’t help wondering if these people are naturally early/on time and therefore can’t understand why people are late, or if they are angry because they bust their butt to get places on time and think we should be able to do it to.
I think in situations where others being late doesn’t directly affect them, early birds could stand to mind their own business once in awhile, that’s all… I realize I sound like an ass, but this is honestly how I feel about it. I can’t help it that this is a morning person’s world, so consider yourselves lucky if you were born to wake up at 7 a.m.
I was born several days late! I used to be chronically late, and I changed that in my early 30’s. To my great delight, I am now known as a dependable and punctual person.
The first thing I did, which seems unrelated, was to stop lying.
Somehow, not being able to make up some story that made me look like a hero and explained my lateness helped break me of the habit.
Try saying, “I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t give myself enough time this morning,” about a thousand times, like I did. First comes humility, then comes punctuality! I’m living proof it can be done!
Good luck!
Well, it’s good to know that it’s possible to change!
I’ve never really been one for excuses, which is quite confusing for people when they give me a dirty look for being late to work and then find out I had a dentist appointment. Of course, I don’t usually say “I didn’t give myself enough time this morning.” That could be helpful.
I guess feeling guilty about being late is a good sign? Thanks!
[...] I’ve mentioned before that I have a problem with being chronically late. [...]
[...] latest cost of chronic lateness: A speeding ticket yesterday morning. 78 in a 60, with a $150 fee. $300 if I want to get it taken [...]