It’s Friday, folks! And on Fridays, we love to ease off the heavy, serious stuff and look at what’s happening around us in a more relaxed way. Today, we’re taking a fun detour into something we’ve all come across: the somewhat cocky phrase, “If you’re on time, you’re late.”
This phrase has been tossed around quite a bit, especially in man-on-the-street interviews done by Fortune in New York’s Financial District. But honestly? It might be as old-fashioned as calling something “the bee’s knees.”
When the pandemic came around, it flipped our workplace norms upside down — kind of like a game of 52-card pickup. Suddenly, the meaning of “being late” was up for debate as people began working from anywhere — home or office.
According to a Monster survey from August, only 14% of employees in the US now see punctuality as a top-tier workplace etiquette rule.
“I was surprised that number was so low,” said Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster. But here’s the twist — 76% of people said being consistently late to meetings is one of their top five pet peeves! So while punctuality may seem outdated, it still bugs a lot of us when others are running late.
The survey also found that only 51% of employers are emphasizing punctuality these days. Many workplaces don’t seem to mind lateness as long as it doesn’t slow down group projects. Salemi explains that it’s more noticeable when everyone’s already waiting for a meeting — whether remote or in person.
The top five annoying office behaviors include:
- Not cleaning up after oneself (88%)
- Gossiping (81%)
- Using inappropriate language (78%)
- Ignoring messages (77%)
- Consistently being late to meetings (77%)
While people might be cool with lateness now and then, it’s a different story if it messes with productivity. As Jennifer Moss, author of Unlocking Happiness at Work, puts it: “While some may be okay with lateness, it becomes frustrating if it hampers their work.”
A Changing Work Culture
Jen Fisher, a global wellbeing expert, sees the trend shifting toward a more relaxed attitude about punctuality, thanks to remote and hybrid work. “The rigid 9-to-5 model has become less relevant for many,” she says. The focus now is on getting things done rather than just showing up, and tools for asynchronous work help make that possible.
Salemi adds that people seem to care less about being on time now than five years ago, and flexible work arrangements make it easier to lose track of coworkers’ schedules.
However, Moss urges us to rethink punctuality altogether. For instance, workers — particularly women — may be late because of childcare duties. “If someone being late isn’t affecting others, maybe we need to loosen up our expectations a bit,” she suggests.
But not all bosses are on board with this flexibility. Some have tightened the reins, putting stricter policies in place to track time and productivity. “Even if attitudes are shifting, punctuality still matters because it sends the message that you care,” says Salemi.
Punctuality Varies by Industry
The rules of punctuality are far from universal. Different industries have different expectations. Teachers and healthcare workers may not have the same flexibility as those in higher-level corporate roles. And hourly service jobs, of course, come with their own strict rules ( not forgetting our call our very own company- customer service industry).
So, maybe the key isn’t to throw out all the punctuality rules but to adapt them wisely. One clever tip from an interviewee? “Aim to arrive just after your boss! Just don’t quote me!
+ There are no comments
Add yours