Employee leaves work after being 15 minutes late to their 8-hour shift, blames company policy forbidding employees from clocking in late: ‘Why bother?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Even the most punctual people out there are late sometimes, especially since there are plenty of variables that affect our commute from place to place.

Personally, I hate being late. I always try to be at least 15 minutes early to anything I schedule, including work. But even I find myself struggling to keep that up every single day. Some mornings, the bus simply doesn't show up, or a random car breaks down in the middle of the highway, causing a major delay in my carefully-structured schedule. 

This can happen to everyone, which should be something to remember when setting up rules about being on time.

The company in the story below has a strict policy that states that if an employee is more than 10 minutes late to work, they cannot clock in for the entire shift; they may as well go home for the day. So when this employee tried to clock in after a 15-minute delay, they realized they couldn't and left, even though they were more than ready to work that day.

So, is this policy really the best way to handle the punctuality issue? I'm not entirely sure…

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  • 01
    Businessman Walking on Stairs
    via davidf

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    When a "late" is treated like an absence, why bother going in?!

    My car wouldn't start this morning and it would have caused me to be 15 min late to an 8 hour shift.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 03
    The clock in "grace period" is 10 minutes, so this would have been a "ding". This "ding" is the same whether I miss 15 min or 8 hours.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 04
    So I went home. What's the point of this strict policy?? They understaffed themselves by punishing me equally for a late or an absence.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 05
    I'm going to enjoy my day off, but I'm irritated. I actually had work to do today that I was almost looking forward to.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 06
    But this is a ridiculous game and I'm not going to play it. Thank you for reading my rant.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 07
    (I should add I'm in a privileged position where the loss of income is mildly annoying and not bank breaking.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 08
    I know this is not the case for everyone.)
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 09
    dataBlockerCable Although I understand the desire to ask opinions of others this really is a question that should be posed to the company with the policy. We have very limited details or insight to your job especially based on the post, and there could be all sorts of intangibles we can't see.
    via dataBlockerCable
  • 10
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 You at absolutely correct! I did actually have this conversation with my supervisor this morning and asked her to document it in an email. I am working towards a policy change in this. Luckily my company is usually pretty great, my co-workers won't hold it against me, and my work just pushes out one day. If they wanted it sooner, have a better policy.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 11
    Brownie-0109 I'm confused. What line of work is this? Are they ok with not having you work for 90% of your shift? Do they have backup option when this happens?
    via Brownie-0109
  • 12
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 It's partially call center and partially inventory management. I have some backups, but there are a solid set of tasks that will not get done today without me.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 13
    Puzzleheaded-Novel27 It doesn't really matter. They set rules you gotta play by. If it's the same punishment being 15 min late or taking the day off. I personally will not be in today.
    via Puzzleheaded-Novel27
  • 14
    Business Man Walking Up the Stairs
    via rattanakun

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 That's where I'm at. I don't like the rules, but my job is to follow them. And not only when it benefits the company.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 16
    Brownie-0109 It sounds like everyone loses. But I guess the fact they have backups lessens their risk.
    via Brownie-0109
  • 17
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 Yup. It seems really pointless. Since everyone is held to the same silly policies, we don't hold absences against each other. And management just looks at numbers so all they see is a "ding" and not the lost time.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 18
    Worried_Bet_2617 When you need the money. Absent the need, none at all!
    via Worried_Bet_2617
  • 19
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 Yup, that was my thought. I even spoke with my supervisor this morning and told her this is why I'm not coming in. I'm working towards a policy change. Since this does not violate any policies, there are no consequences (and that is consistent with the behavior of the company). But it's an absurd policy.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 20
    nanneryeeter Damn! I've never worked a job with a standardized absence policy. It's always been "We're all adults. Be an adult. Handle your business." That system sounds like idiot stuff.
    via nanneryeeter
  • 21
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 Overall it's a great company to work for. But there are some very odd policies that seem counter productive. Maybe remnants of when it was a much smaller business, I dunno. Usually they are the type to be "Act like professionals and we're all good"... but once in a while they've got a blanket policy that is nonsense.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 22
    mtinmd Because if you don't call out then it becomes a no-call no-show, which is worse.
    via mtinmd
  • 23
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 I did call out! I was talking with my supervisor 20 minutes before my shift started. You are right though, a no call no show is treated much more severely.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 24
    borncrossey3d Even if the ding is there, I guarantee the punishment is not the same. Management are still people and understands the difference between being late and getting work done and just not showing up and nothing got done.
    via borncrossey3d
  • 25
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 Nah, you'd really really think that though. It would make both logical and business sense. But I've been here for 5 years and this is how it goes. I'm glad to know it IS bizarre and uncommon.
    via WeAreAllStories11
  • 26
    itsathrowawayduhhhhh Probably get paid but lose points. My friend has point system at her work
    via itsathrowawayduhhhhh
  • 27
    OP WeAreAllStories 11 Yes, this. A point is a point whether a late, an absence or a leave early because you threw up at your desk. They only use points to track attendance but it's def a system set up to make a paper trail for firing. My particular role is quite secure and I'm well versed on the overall policy, so that's not a worry for me.
    via WeAreAllStories11

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boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story policy overworked-employees workplace late Reddit company clocking in
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