Tackling lateness with the right tools and support

A retail client approached me after struggling with ongoing lateness in one of their departments. While they had great people, the lack of structure around timekeeping meant managers weren’t confident addressing issues—and lateness was beginning to affect team morale and shift handovers.

They needed a fair, consistent approach, so they turned to my Absence and Attendance Tookit and Disciplinary Toolkit, alongside the personalised advice I offer as part of the service.

Step 1: Establishing a Fair Threshold

Using the Timekeeping Policy template, the client set clear expectations for punctuality, including what would trigger further action.

With my support, they decided that three instances of lateness within a two-week period would prompt a review.

This gave managers something concrete to refer to, rather than relying on informal chats or gut instinct. I helped them sense-check this threshold against best practice and ensure it felt reasonable and proportionate.

Step 2: Putting the Right Policies in Place

They already had a disciplinary policy, but it was vague.

Using my Disciplinary Policy template, we updated it to clearly outline the steps for addressing misconduct—specifically referencing timekeeping as a potential issue.

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