Late for work? Do you reveal why?
A while back, we talked about requesting time off for unspecified “things” when you are a parent, but, how much do you reveal when you are late to work?
Apparently, some excuses are seen as more legitimate than others when you get to your desk after the appointed hour.
According to the UK Times Online:
More than half of all working mothers will lie about why they are running late or absent from the office if their childcare arrangements fall through, according to research.
Even though it probably shouldn’t be that way, it sounds like parents, mothers in particular, are minimizing the times that parenting affects their work performance.
If I’m late to work, and, it’s child-related, I don’t go out of my way to give the reason in great detail.
Not because I have anything to hide, or, I’m ashamed, I just think the people around me don’t really care about the details. My employee is young and single, and, my boss’ kids are grown, so, they really can’t relate, and, I just feel like I’m talking too much.
What about you? If the babysitter doesn’t show, or, junior won’t get dressed, do you blame it on traffic, do you tell anyone who’ll listen your tale of parenting woe when you get to work, or, does a simple, “Sorry, I’m running late today” suffice?
Ha! I AM the boss so I wander in, daring anyone to question my movements! Seriously though, I suspect most people are going to say they downplay any child-related reasons. Everyone can relate to bad traffic. Not everyone understands “I was just about out the door when Junior decided I’d look good wearing yogurt”.
As an employer I don’t really need to hear the reasons that someone is late/not coming in unless its some true health or life issue I should know about. Random sickness/lateness just doesn’t bother me unless they don’t have the days or its a recurrent problem. As an employee, I generally tell why because there is a reason we have days to take, and it doesn’t matter if you have kids or not.
Since I’ve been known to sneak my kid into work when childcare problems, or traffic problems create childcare problems happen, I am perhaps not the best person to ask about workplace honesty. It has worked twice in the past 11 months and I hope I never have to do it again.