Most of the time, when you are late for work, it is due to circumstances you cannot control (for example, a sick child or a traffic jam). Regardless of your reasons for being late, it is important that you report this to your supervisor and that when you finally arrive, you communicate openly and honestly with your boss about what happened. In the event that you are particularly late or it is not your first time, you may need to follow up with a short email giving an honest explanation of what happened.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Call ahead
Step 1. Determine how late you will be
Evaluate the conditions that are holding you back and estimate how long it will take you to get there. A few minutes may not be a big deal, but this will depend on what you do. However, if you think it will take a while, you should always make an effort to tell someone.
- Take into account how long it will take to resolve your current situation in order to provide a more accurate estimate. For example, in case you are stuck in traffic, you can use a navigation application that gives you live updates about the traffic so you can see how fast it is moving ahead of you.
- Giving your employer some idea as to when they can expect you to arrive will reassure them and allow them to make any necessary adjustments to the schedule.
Step 2. Call your workplace if you are going to be more than 5 minutes late
It's usually best to make a phone call to let someone know you're late (unless you're confident that you can be on time despite the setback). You must let him know what is happening and how much longer it will take you to get there.
In case you can't tell how late you will ultimately be, you better be safe and call anyway
Step 3. Consider the events of the day and call ahead, if necessary
Your lateness may cause a bigger problem depending on what you have to do that day. For example, if the store you work at is going to have a great sale or you have an important meeting scheduled, you should definitely let your employer or client know right away.
If you call right away, maybe someone else can cover for you until you get there
Step 4. Ask to speak directly to your boss
When you've contacted someone by phone, ask them to put you in touch with your manager, shift manager, or one of your boss's direct reports. This will help ensure that your message reaches the right person.
- If you need to share important information, you can tell your boss's receptionist or his administrative assistant. Since these people often take notes, a record of your call will remain.
- Do not inform a colleague of your status, as they may forget to convey the message if they are busy or distracted.
Method 2 of 4: Apologize in Person
Step 1. Bring it up with your boss as soon as you arrive
Apologizing should be your top priority after you get to work. Your boss will most likely let it go and you can get to work, but if not, they can talk to you about it before you officially start your day.
- You need to apologize in person, even if you called ahead of time to inform your employer that you would be late.
- Delaying an apology for being busy or being afraid to confront your boss could end up looking indifferent or irresponsible, and this can make you look bad as an employee.
Step 2. Provide a brief explanation of your reasons for being late
When you have your boss's attention, you should tell him what the circumstances were that caused you to be late. Your apology should be explicit and truthful and go straight to the point. The more elaborate the story you tell, the more it seems like you're just trying to cover your back.
- You don't need to embellish your story with unnecessary details. Just say something like, "I'm sorry I was a few minutes late today. My youngest son got sick just as he was about to leave."
- Do not share events of the day if they are not appropriate for the job. If your delay was due to being distracted by a personal phone call or spending an hour in the bathroom with stomach problems, it may be best not to give a reason.
Step 3. Be sincere
When apologizing, you should make an effort to sound appropriately sorry. Your boss will be able to detect if you really don't mean what you say. Your best option is to simply be honest and take responsibility for your mistake.
Avoid laughing, joking, or trying to downplay your lateness, as dismissing the situation could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect
Step 4. End the conversation with a thank you
Regardless of whether your boss chides you or lets it go, take a moment to express your gratitude. After all, he's the reason you still have a job. Complimenting yourself with him might also help to soften him up a bit in case he's on the warpath because you're late.
- You could say something like the following to show that you appreciate their indulgence: "Thank you for being so understanding. I promise it won't happen again."
- While it may be difficult for you to swallow your pride in front of your supervisor, it is the most diplomatic way to proceed, especially if the cause of your delay is your own actions.
Method 3 of 4: Write an apology letter
Step 1. Send an apology letter if you are exceptionally late
If you are more than an hour late, you may want to follow up with one in writing after your apology in person. By taking the time to write a formal letter, you will show that you genuinely regret it, which will help you get back to ingratiating yourself with your employer.
You should also consider writing an apology letter in case you have had one or more violations in the past or if your delay caused a big problem for your company (for example, losing a customer or a violation of security)
Step 2. Write your letter following a formal structure
Write your full name, your address and your email at the top of the letter. Then, on the next line, write the current date. Below this, you should write the name of your boss, his email address and the postal address of the company.
If the company you work for is large, you should include the local address of your workplace and not the company headquarters
Step 3. Begin the letter with a traditional greeting
You should start with the word "Dear" and then write the appropriate title for your boss. It is customary to use a given title (for example, "Mr.", "Mrs." or "Ms.") although you usually address your boss in casual terms. You should never address your employer by their first name.
- Most apology letters start with a line like "Dear Ms. Martinez" or "Dear Mr. Sanchez."
- In case you are not comfortable with using the word "Dear", there is no problem with omitting it and just writing "Ms. Martinez" and then placing a colon.
- You should be careful not to convey too much familiarity to your employer, as this could come off as disrespectful.
Step 4. Use the body of the letter to present your apology
You should explain that the letter is intended to go beyond a simple verbal apology and then summarize your reasons for being late, even if you have already discussed it in person with your boss. Remember to mention the date and time to provide context for the situation.
- This could be your explanation: "I wanted to offer my sincere apologies for being two hours late for work last Friday, August 10, 2018. I had an unexpected crisis at home that required my attention. I understand that my absence occurred in a moment Inopportune for the company and, again, I would like to say how sorry I am. "
- The body of the letter should be short. Ideally, it should consist of just a few lines: the beginning, a short explanation, and a final acknowledgment of the error.
Step 5. Show that you understand the consequences of being late
It's hard to get an idea of the tone of a written apology, so write a line that conveys that you regret being late. Recognize how your mistake impacted your employer and colleagues or what it cost the company if it had financial consequences.
For example, you could write, "I acknowledge that by missing the 10 am appointment, I not only lost a potential client, but also damaged the credibility of our company as a trusted consultancy that emphasizes customer satisfaction."
Step 6. Finish the letter by mentioning how you plan to make amends for your mistake
You should explain how you intend to avoid being late in the future, outlining the exact steps you will take to fulfill your promise (for example, leaving earlier or scheduling your meetings more wisely). In this way, you will show that you focus on feasible solutions and not just empty excuses.
A closing line such as "I have asked a trusted neighbor to be available to help me with the dogs so that a situation like this morning does not happen again" will be taken as a sign of good faith
Step 7. Express your gratitude before saying goodbye
You must thank your boss for his patience and understanding and for taking the time to read your letter. Closing the letter politely will help ease any remaining resentments and set a positive tone for your interactions in the future.
- The last line doesn't need to be overly outrageous: "I appreciate how kind you have been throughout this situation and look forward to another chance to prove my loyalty to the company."
- You should include at least a short gesture of appreciation (for example, "Thank you for understanding these difficulties and my plans to amend them").
Step 8. Sign your name by hand at the bottom of the letter
You should leave some space under the closure of the letter so that you can sign it after printing. In case you choose to send it by email instead, there is no problem if you simply type your first and last name on the computer. Be careful to use the name by which you are most often known in your workplace.
- You could include a flattering closing line before signing if you wish (for example, "Sincerely" or "Respectfully").
- If you work for a large company that has many departments, it may be helpful to mention your title under your name so that the recipient can more easily identify you.
Method 4 of 4: Be Honest and Trustworthy
Step 1. Don't lie or make excuses
While you may be tempted to make up a story to explain your lateness, you should resist it, as ultimately the reason you are late doesn't matter as much as making it clear that you intend to do everything. possible because it doesn't happen again. Also, if your cover story is found to be false, this will only make you appear worse.
- You could be left with the rope around your neck even with small embellishments. It would only take a traffic report on the radio to disprove your claim that you were late due to a multiple collision on the interstate highway.
- In general, if you focus on how your actions have had an effect on others, you will make a better impression than if you try to downplay your mistake. For example, it is better to say "Thank you for making adjustments to your schedule on such short notice" than to say "There was a huge accident on the interstate."
Step 2. Wait to apologize until after the meetings (if applicable)
The only time you shouldn't immediately apologize is when an important meeting is taking place, in which case it is best to just walk in and join the meeting in progress. You can wait until after the meeting to apologize.
- When entering, you should make as little noise as possible so as not to draw more unnecessary attention to yourself.
- Apologizing during a meeting will not only interrupt it, but it will also increase your embarrassment, as you will have to admit your mistake to your colleagues and superiors.
Step 3. Do your best not to be late in the future
Of course, we are all late from time to time, but if it starts to become a habit, you will inevitably come to be viewed as an unreliable employee. Regardless of how often or how sincerely you explain yourself, making the same mistake again means that you don't really regret what you did.
- If necessary, you should start waking up half an hour earlier so that you have a small margin in your morning routine or your commute to work.
- Being chronically late could result in reprimands, penalties, or even getting fired.
Advice
- Punctuality is an important part of all jobs. However, there are some employers who take it more seriously than others. If your company has a strict policy regarding lateness, you should plan to contact them regardless of how late you are arriving.
- You should try to break the news to your employer before someone else does, as you don't want them to have to find out from someone else.
- If you think it's necessary, offer to do something to make it up to your boss. You could offer to stay up late or do extra work as part of a group project.