Right so 2-3 weeks ago I came into office late for the entire week - 5 1/2 days per week. Work hours are 8am to 5pm, Saturdays 8am to 12pm. So for that week, I checked into work by 5-10mins late, and it was just that week I came in later - due to bad weather.

So last week the HR girl came and find me. She was telling me "this is a verbal warning because last week you were late by 5-10mins. In the future if you are late again, it's grounds for you to get fired. Do you understand?" Something along that line. I of course apologised and said I won't do it anymore (or at least try not to) in the future.

And earlier this week, one of my colleagues got a warning letter for being late by 5mins...

I understand its not a good habit to always come in to work late. But really? Getting fired just over lateness? Isn't that a bit extreme? Is lateness in a non-FSC job taken in such a high regard? We're not a back or financial sector, and we don't face customers in person daily. We deliver our daily and weekly work earlier than usual. We've been consistently hitting targets regularly too. Is lateness any worst than say...stealing money from the company? Or breaking company property to say the least? Why are employers like this??????????????????????????????????

Edit: all right guys I've read the comments. I'd just like to clarify that although yes it's my fault for coming in late, I do hope that the company can be a bit more flexible sometimes. After all the job I am doing is not a customer-facing job nor a manufacturing job. I'm a content writer cum social media exec. My work hours do not necessarily abide by the regular 8am-5pm, 9am-6pm. Sometimes I may have to work weekends, like tidying up my work and whatever. However, if the management thinks that coming in to work by 5-10mins late is the biggest offence to have existed, then boy are they really....******.

Also, if I am late by 10mins, I don't mind working extra 10mins after work to replace those late minutes. It really isn't that hard. What I didn't like is how the HR and management are so stiff in what they do. Some days I clock in extra 30-60mins they don't bat an eye. I come in 10mins late, they threaten with me getting fired. It's pretty obv when they "sent a message" by giving a senior staff a warning letter for coming in 5mins late. Sometimes its about live and let live.

This post has been edited by Redshelf411: Dec 16 2020, 02:20 PM

Usually Japanese company or Chinaman company. Either you accept it or get another employer. No other choice

For me, if I am your boss, if you show up late for the entire week, I will raise the alarm as well. Sporadically, it is okay. You see, your inability to come to work on time means that some other area is lacking as well,. Maybe not true for you but perception is reality.

That's kinda normal if you're working in a company that's strict when it comes to timing. That's what it's like in my previous company. You'll get a warning if you're late a few times and be fired if you continue to be late. I can't remember if anyone actually got fired though but management was serious about it. If you're late they'll tell you to leave the house like 15 - 30mins earlier next time which in a way does make sense. If you want to argue that you still get your work done even when you're late then that's something you have to explain to management because maybe it could simply be because they don't see it.
It's the newer staffs who needs to be careful since they need to make a good impression but if you're one of those staffs who has shown that you can get shit done and can provide a valid reason why you're late then there's nothing to worry about. Bad weather is definitely not a good reason though.

This I agree.

This post has been edited by masterelr: Dec 3 2020, 10:34 PM

Half hour one hour that is overboard but this only few minutes only. Even berak takes longer than few minutes

usually have other underlying issue.
boss will ask hr to monitor. try to find mistakes.
give warning letter then can fire. this fulfil the legality side.

chinaman company definitely

i have worked in companies where ppl come in 15 minutes late (i myself did that), 30 minutes late, one hour late every single day, no issue at all...

You have some salty HR unfortunately. Looks like Chinaman company indeed.

As some forumer here have said, there might be an underlying issue. It could be your company is looking for a reason to let go some staff. Or it could be you and your colleague is not performing.

To answer your question can company fire you for being late? Yes they can but not so easy. You will get few warning letters, then showcause letters then they can fire you. My advice start looking job somewhere else or stay there and follow the Chinaman rules. If you good in office politic go try be friend with HR and boss, you might get special treatment.

Could be. Been here close to 6mths now and I've been seeing new staffs being asked to leave at end of probation period or before. Wouldn't be surprised if they want to let new staffs under 1 year leave too.

chinamax company. and it seems like they are using probation staff as cheap temporary labour while still operating within legal grounds (we assess this staff to not be performing up to standards...)

but TS, do take this seriously if you want to stay in that company. verbal warnings do count and can be escalated into formal written warnings. try to get on your hr's good side as an interim measure?

well, some companies strictly follow the policies only, so if the hour stated 8am to 5pm, you come in sharp and leave sharp je, dun rugi to the company.

whether they got grounds or not? likely because you're the one who is in contravention of the policies? it also depends on your boss, whether your boss ok or not.

last time my company 8.30am but clock in 10am or so also no problem for us, why? because we work round the clock, when we work until morning, nobody bats an eye.

just be careful tho. coming in late often will hurt your performance review. if the company wants to lay off employees especially during this covid19 situation, they can use whatever reasons to deem you as "poor performer"

not just chinaman company, MNCs also do the same.

I get the memo during my 3mths probation here. The 3mths probation, after that lay off is already so clear of a message. A lot of times I just lower and hang my head so I will be less subjected to their line of fire. Compromise sikit lah what to do. I know I can fall back to my freelance job and rely on the income. but sometimes having a bit more money is good too.

Thats true. I guess anything can happen during this period. Best I lower my head and just be their yes-man saja

must sit at the place 8am, doesnt matter u doing anything... do coffee,wash cup,chit chat....

sampah company with of course come with its sampah culture

dude, check your employment letter and tell me what it says about coming to work timing

I've checked again. They never said shit about it. BUT in the employee handbook, they did list lateness as a serious offense. Sleeping in office also a serious offense.

Not forgetting to mention their "list of workplace offences, major and minor" spans 7-8 pages. Ridiculous though it's like they are scared of getting offended.

if it's in the handbook, then they have the ground to fire you la.
there must be a precedent for them to put that rule into the handbook in the 1st place, especially for manufacturing/service based industries. The solution is simple, don't like the workplace rules just leave them and find another alternative that suits you.

Yeah and over being late by 5-10mins? Albeit delivering results consistently (or relatively)? We aren't manufacturing/service based company. We aren't sales exec either. This is like a case of "
一点不能放开" situation.

And the "don't like it, then quit/give up" approach? Childish tbh. I don't mind joining a company that pays me shit for the cinapek amount of work they dump on me but hey look I'm still here! I c an leave but that means they'd go back to a china-like company with crap branding. Typical Malaysian mindset.