A simple Employment Dilemma that you just might face in a future job. Let’s just hope it’s the other guy, not you! What is the number one reason people are fired?
a) Difficulty working with others
b) Job performance
c) Attendance issues
Getting a Job After College
This doesn’t make sense that a man or woman should be late to work or anything for that matter. That’s how most of us feel about someone coming in late to work. If being on time is a REAL pet peeve of yours, I’m sure you’ll understand why people are terminated. When you show up to work late, it’s basically a disrespect of the company’s time.
While you would think difficulty working with others would be the best answer, just consider that from childhood up we’re always going to have that one person that just grates your nerves. So, that’s not usually why people are fired. And as it relates to job performance, it’s hard to gauge what’s on someone else’s job description.
Test yourself (and challenge your friends) to master the Employment Dilemma game.
About Marja Lee Freeman
I agree with your answer. Employers have the right and obligation to intervene when there are disagreements and performance issues. These situations can be resolved in the forms of conflict resolution techniques, employee assistance program, or training.
An employer may understand a missed bus or oversleeping on a very infrequent basis. However, to intervene to resolve repeated tardiness or absences, an employer may have to step into the “personal” realm and deal with an employee’s “personal” issues. The employer, who has probably given several warnings, may not want to get involved at that level.
More than anything, an employer wants a DEPENDABLE employee.
Absolutely, Barbara. The one thing employees notice is a vacant chair. Nobody likes the term “late” — because late implies lazy. As you said life circumstances should always be considered first. However what the employee could do to minimize the situation is to talk with the manager directly. It’s when you hide things that it gives people more opportunity to speculate on what they THINK may be going on.
Thanks for your reply.
People make the time to do the things they want to do. If being at work on time is a priority, then it will happen. If its not, then it won’t. Its a matter of priority, attitude and habits, of course.
I invite the tardy crowd to play role reversal and ask themselves, “If I were the owner of the company and folks were late on a regular basis, would I be willing to pay for performance when the clock was ticking and no one was present?” Please. If the answer is yes, then not only would that be ridiculous, it would mean that that person wouldn’t be in business for long!