5 steps for when you're running late

Being on time for work

Is super important and always will be throughout your employment journey, but occasional delays can happen.

How you handle these situations and take responsibility for not being on time will allow you to develop key skills for the future.

Here are the steps to take:

1. Notify Your Supervisor: Inform your supervisor or manager as soon as possible. Call or send a message to let them know about the delay and provide an estimated arrival time. Make sure that you follow the business process of how to communicate with your supervisor or manager.
2. Explain the Situation: Briefly explain the reason why you are late. Whether it's due to transportation issues, unexpected circumstances, or any other valid reason, transparency is key.
3. Apologise: Say you are sorry and apologise for the inconvenience caused by your delay. Acknowledge the importance of punctuality and assure your supervisor that it's not a thing that will happen regularly.
4. Be Professional: Always be professional and respectful when communicating. Apologise again if necessary and quickly transition into your work responsibilities, once you arrive do not delay getting into your shift. If your supervisor speaks to you sternly or they are disappointed don’t be defensive just listen and take what they are saying onboard.
5. Learn from the Experience: Reflect on the reasons why you were late and think about how you can prevent this from happening again in the future. Plan your journey to work, account for potential delays, and set realistic timelines.