Being fashionably late for a dinner date or a holiday party might be acceptable, but it is definitely not a good habit for the workplace. Punctuality is especially important if your employment includes shift work or requires team involvement. Even if your work doesn't involve daily time requirements of any kind, co-workers will probably notice if you consistently arrive late or have difficulty meeting project deadlines. Punctuality reassures your boss that you take your job seriously and work hard to meet client and customer demands. When the opportunity for promotion rolls around, this will score points with your supervisor.
Deadlines
Punctuality is often the key to completing projects and assignments quickly and effectively. Some professionals, such as writers, journalists, producers and accountants, have daily, weekly and monthly deadlines. Meeting deadlines and timelines assures clients that they can count on you to get the job done. Without professional punctuality, customers might look for another company to supply their needs. Striving to meet deadlines helps establish your strong work ethic and your desire to be productive.
Team-Centered Goals
When you're on time for meetings, conference calls and shift changes, you show others that you have team-centered work goals. Punctuality demonstrates your respect for co-workers and clients and reinforces your time-management skills. Team-focused employees avoid extended lunch breaks, respond to emails in a timely fashion and avoid tardiness, making sure to carry their weight on the job. If you want your boss and co-workers to see you as a responsible team-centered worker, then be punctual.
Job Security
It might not seem like your job security is based on punctuality, but it certainly doesn't hurt, especially in a struggling economy. According to a Channel 2 news report in Reno, Nevada, the number of employees arriving late to work at least once a week has slid from 20 percent to 15 percent. In a tough job market, you don't want to risk losing your job because your boss sees you as lazy or irresponsible. Punctuality demonstrates your willingness to get up early, plan and make every effort to complete your work on time.
Professionalism
Punctuality is a sign of professionalism and helps you stand out as a reliable and trustworthy employee. If you don't get your part of a project completed on time, you keep others from being able to finish their tasks. Being punctual helps establish your reputation as a dependable and consistent worker. In an interdependent work environment, everything runs like a well-oiled piece of machinery. Being on time helps ensure that you're doing your best to keep things running smoothly.
Writer Bio
As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.