Most of the time when you're late to work, it's due to circumstances that are out of your control, like a sick child or a traffic jam.It's important to let your supervisor know that you'll be late and communicate openly and sincerely with your boss about what happened once you arrive.If you show up late or not your first offense, you may want to send an email with an explanation.
Step 1: You need to know how late you're going to be.
Take a look at the conditions that are holding you up and estimate how long it will take you to get in.A few minutes may not be the end of the world, depending on what you do.You should always let someone know if you think you'll be delayed.Consider how long it will take you to resolve your current situation in order to give a more accurate estimate.If you are stuck in traffic, you can use a navigation app to find out how fast things are moving.Giving your employer an idea of when you will arrive will allow them to make any necessary adjustments to the schedule.
Step 2: When you are going to be late, call your workplace.
Unless you are confident you can make it in on time, it is a good idea to call someone and let them know.Inform them of what is going on and how long it will take you to get there.If you don't know how late you'll be, call anyways.
Step 3: If necessary, take the day's events into account.
Depending on what you have going that day, your tardiness may cause more issues.If your store is running a big sale or you have an important meeting on the books, you will definitely want to alert your employer or client right away.Someone else might be able to cover for you until you arrive.
Step 4: Speak directly to your boss.
You can request to be put on the line with your manager, shift leader, or one of your boss's direct subordinates.The message will be relayed to the right person if this is done correctly.Leave important information to your boss's receptionist or administrative assistant.There will be a record of your call because these people usually take notes.You don't want to share your status with a coworker.They might forget to pass the word along if they are busy or distracted.
Step 5: You should address the matter with your boss when you show up.
After you walk in the door, make issuing your apology priority #1.If your boss waves it off, you can get to work.They can talk to you about it before you punch in.If you called in before to tell your employer that you were going to be late, you should apologize in person.If you put off apologizing because you are busy or dread facing your boss, you may end up looking indifferent or irresponsible, which can reflect poorly on you as an employee.
Step 6: Explain why you're late.
Give your boss an account of the circumstances that caused you to be late.It's important that your apology is explicit, honest, and to-the-point.It will sound like you are just trying to cover for yourself if you tell an elaborate tale.It is not necessary to dress up your story with unnecessary details.Say something like, "I'm sorry, I was a bit late today."My youngest child got sick when I was about to leave.It may be better to not give a reason at all if you were late because you got distracted by a phone call or spent an hour on the toilet.
Step 7: You should be sincere.
Make an effort to sound remorseful as you issue your apology.Your boss can tell if you really mean what you say.Accept responsibility for your mistake and be honest with yourself.Don't try to laugh or joke about your lateness.Making light of the situation could be seen as disrespect.
Step 8: "Thank you" is what you should end the conversation with.
" Regardless of whether your boss chews you out or lets you off the hook, take a moment to express your gratitude."They are the reason you have a job.If they are on the warpath over your late arrival, it might be a good idea toratiate yourself to them.You could say something like, "Thank you for being so understanding" as a way of showing your appreciation.It can be hard to swallow your pride in front of your supervisor, but it is the most diplomatic course of action when you are late.
Step 9: If you are late, send an apology letter.
If you don't show up for more than an hour, a written apology may be a good idea.Taking the time to compose a formal letter will show that you are genuinely remorseful and help you get back into your employer's good graces.If your tardiness caused a major problem for your company, such as a lost client or safety violation, you should consider writing an apology letter.
Step 10: A formal structure can be used for your letter.
At the top of the letter, place your full name, address, and email address.The date that you are writing about should be noted on the next line.Beneath that is where you can put your boss's name and email address.If you work for a large company, you should put down the local address of your workplace.
Step 11: You can open your letter with a greeting.
The word "dear" should be followed by your boss's appropriate title.It is customary to use the title "Mr."Even if you are on casual terms.Refer to your employer by their first name only.If you don't want to use the word "dear" in your letter, you can say "Miss Morgan" followed by a comma.Don't sound familiar with your employer.It could be seen as disrespectful to do so.
Step 12: Put your apology in the body of the letter.
The purpose of the letter is to go beyond a simple apology.If you have already talked it out with your boss, you should explain your reason for being late.To give context for the situation, note the date and time."I want to offer my sincerest apologies for being two hours late to work this past Friday, August 10th."I had a crisis at home that demanded my attention.I know that my absence came at a bad time for the company, and I would like to apologize again.The body of your letter should be short and sweet.It should consist of a few lines, your opening, a brief explanation, and a final acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
Step 13: Show that you are aware of the consequences of being late.
It's hard to take away a sense of tone from a written apology, so you'll want to include a line that conveys that you regret being late.If there were financial consequences to your mistake, acknowledge how it impacted your employer and coworkers."I realize that by missing my 10 am appointment I not only lost a potential client but also damaged our company's credibility as a dependable consultant with an emphasis on customer satisfaction."
Step 14: How you plan to make up for your mistake is what you should end your letter with.
How will you avoid being late in the future?Mention the steps you will take to follow through on your pledge, such as leaving earlier or scheduling your appointments more prudently.This will show you are focused on solutions.A closing line like "I've asked a trusted neighbor to be available to help with the dogs so that a situation like this morning's doesn't happen again" will be taken as a sign of good faith.
Step 15: Before you sign off, express your gratitude.
Thank you for being patient and understanding, and for taking the time to read your letter.If you end things on a good note, you will be able to set a positive tone for future interactions."I'm eager for another chance to prove my loyalty to the company, and I appreciate how gracious you've been throughout this whole debacle."If nothing else, say thank you for understanding the difficulties and my plans to correct them.
Step 16: Put your hand at the bottom of the letter.
Beneath your closing is where you can put your signature after you have printed your letter.You can type out your first and last names if you decide to send it as an email.You should always use the name you go by at the workplace.If you want, you can include a complimentary closing line before your signature.If you work in a large company with multiple departments, you may want to list your job title below your name.
Step 17: Don't lie or make excuses.
Resist the urge to make a story out of your lateness.Making it clear that you intend to do everything in your power to keep it from happening again is more important than the reason why you're late.It will make you look worse if your cover story is found to be false.You could end up in hot water.It would take a radio traffic report to prove that you were late due to a pileup.It is better to focus on how your actions have affected others than to downplay the mistake.For instance, "Thank you for adjusting your schedule on such short notice" sounds better than "There was a big wreck on the interstate."
Step 18: If applicable, wait until after the meetings to apologize.
When there's an important meeting going on is when you shouldn't say sorry.It's best to walk in and join the meeting in progress.It is possible for your apology to be waited until afterwards.As you slip in to avoid drawing attention to yourself, make as little noise as possible.If you apologized in front of your higher-ups and coworkers, it would disrupt the proceedings and make you look bad.
Step 19: Don't be late in the future.
Everyone is late at times.You will come to be viewed as an unreliable employee if you start to develop a habit.Repeated your mistake suggests you are not sorry for what you've done.If you have to, start waking up half an hour earlier to give yourself more time to get to work.It is possible that you could be reprimanded or even fired for being chronically late.