Punctuality
June 2023 Character Core
Most people know the sinking feeling that comes with the realization that arriving at work on time is impossible. Whether the cause of this tardiness is your own, due to procrastination, or forces outside of your control, such as weather or traffic, being late doesn’t bring with it a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment.
According to a poll done in 2014, YouGov discovered that approximately 20% of Americans are late to work each week. The percentage of people who are never late is “just under half (48%)”. This was a self-reported poll, leaving room for variation and inaccuracy in the results.
However, this number remains concerning. The poll reveals an interesting difference in the age of those who tend to be late or punctual. Of the people who participated, 22% of millennials “admitted to showing up late at least once a week compared to just 15% of people aged 55 plus.” Another poll conducted by Careerbuilider.com a few years later found that nearly 30% of Americans are late to work each day.
While being late might seem like a small delay to the workday, the consequences are more impactful. Among the repercussions are damage to team morale, undisciplined work habits, negative effects on customer satisfaction, management issues, and more. Arriving on time to work is a simple, yet effective way to help improve the workplace for both customers and employees.
