Punctuality Bonus - Employment Law Question
Discussion
It also punishes the people who are genuinely late, puncture, child fell down stairs, etc
Are you always in work at the right time??
When I (part-owned) a business of 25+ employees we were always flexible, a few minutes here or there didn't matter as long as staff pulled their weight when we were really up against it. It worked really well.
davidy
Are you always in work at the right time??
When I (part-owned) a business of 25+ employees we were always flexible, a few minutes here or there didn't matter as long as staff pulled their weight when we were really up against it. It worked really well.
davidy
If you are going to be flexible in its implementation and there is money rewards about, at some point you are going to 'p*ss-off' some of your staff. Its only a matter of time.
If the product requires full cover from a Health and Safety POV, can't you just have staff starting at different times to ensure you always have some form of cover
davidy
If the product requires full cover from a Health and Safety POV, can't you just have staff starting at different times to ensure you always have some form of cover
davidy
magic torch said:
and I'd be flexible in it's implementation...
Genuinely can't see anything wrong with rewarding the staff that make an effort. I'm not taking away anything from those that don't.
Genuinely can't see anything wrong with rewarding the staff that make an effort. I'm not taking away anything from those that don't.
So rather than have a formal rule that 10 mins early all week = bonus, just give a bonus to those staff who you know are putting in the effort.
As said above - some people who put all the effort in may be late one day for unavoidable reasons - yet you'd still know they are worthy of the bonus.
Full cover is accounted for by having staff start earlier than legally required.
Yes, it may p-off some staff, but the scheme would only apply to temp workers on a lower rate of pay. Only the 'cream' are offered a permanent position, with a better remuneration. The ones upset by it would be unlikely to be offered a permanent position anyway.
I can't yet say any more about the business, so it's hard to convey to exact scenario. I'm not talking about 'established staff' here.
Yes, it may p-off some staff, but the scheme would only apply to temp workers on a lower rate of pay. Only the 'cream' are offered a permanent position, with a better remuneration. The ones upset by it would be unlikely to be offered a permanent position anyway.
I can't yet say any more about the business, so it's hard to convey to exact scenario. I'm not talking about 'established staff' here.
This area is one of my absolute specialisms
Why are you going to bribe your staff to come to work - you do that anyway - it's called pay
If people are throwing sickies that can be dealt with and although there is a big legal pot hole - it's very avoidable
Deal with the people who are taking teh mickey, firmly, fairly and quickley and th eproblem will improve in no time
email me off line if you want to
Why are you going to bribe your staff to come to work - you do that anyway - it's called pay
If people are throwing sickies that can be dealt with and although there is a big legal pot hole - it's very avoidable
Deal with the people who are taking teh mickey, firmly, fairly and quickley and th eproblem will improve in no time
email me off line if you want to
Where I work the importance of good timekeeping is hammered into the staff from day 1. So much so in the probation period people have had their contract terminated for being late for the start of the shift and or coming back from break late. I am all for it as someone who makes sure I leave the house early enough to get to work on time.
I hasten to add that I've only ever had jobs where it doesn't matter what time I actually arrive.
Sod the management, there is no quesion that I'm gonna do my hours, if you want to fire me for being late then do so. I cannot think of an urban or semi urban area where come 8.45 traffic coems to a standstill, and there are approximately 80 or 90,000 cars sitting on the dual carriageway waiting to get to work.
Why do we do this?????
The way I see it, is that if I sit in traffic for half an hour each way that's one eighth of a day that I've lost. Nobody paid me for it, and irrespective of what anyone says, it doesn't do the environment or my mental health any good.
Turn up an hour and a half early, turn up an hour and a half late. As long as I do my hours, it's your loss if you fire me for it.
Edited to add;
I'd rather be on a clock, myself. Crazily, people who are on a clock are usually mandated to turn up on time!
Sod the management, there is no quesion that I'm gonna do my hours, if you want to fire me for being late then do so. I cannot think of an urban or semi urban area where come 8.45 traffic coems to a standstill, and there are approximately 80 or 90,000 cars sitting on the dual carriageway waiting to get to work.
Why do we do this?????
The way I see it, is that if I sit in traffic for half an hour each way that's one eighth of a day that I've lost. Nobody paid me for it, and irrespective of what anyone says, it doesn't do the environment or my mental health any good.
Turn up an hour and a half early, turn up an hour and a half late. As long as I do my hours, it's your loss if you fire me for it.
Edited to add;
I'd rather be on a clock, myself. Crazily, people who are on a clock are usually mandated to turn up on time!
Edited by dilbert on Friday 3rd November 20:07
This is a good thread.
In our industry punctuality is essential. I appreciate that there should be flexibility - some workers are late by a few minutes - providing they make it up at the end of the day I'm happy. However, this is rarely the case - I end up with people booking 10 minutes worth of o/t.
In our industry punctuality is essential. I appreciate that there should be flexibility - some workers are late by a few minutes - providing they make it up at the end of the day I'm happy. However, this is rarely the case - I end up with people booking 10 minutes worth of o/t.
I cannot see how you can implement a bonus scheme for turning up early for work. It could be argued that if someone turns up 10 minutes early then he/she is entitled to 10 minutes pay every day anyway.That is if you are expecting that person to work on turning up for work. That surely is not a bonus then is it? but renumeration for work actually done.
Ive worked at plenty of places where people turn up early and that doesnt mean that they start work earlier or produce more work at the end of the day.
If you have problems with timekeeping and start times then you really need to address it as it happens on a daily basis.
Ive worked at plenty of places where people turn up early and that doesnt mean that they start work earlier or produce more work at the end of the day.
If you have problems with timekeeping and start times then you really need to address it as it happens on a daily basis.
I often turn up to work late, I should start at 8:30 but usually turn up just after nine, when the issue was first raised (by someone outside of my line management), I said I would turn up on time if they wanted, but I would also leave on time instead of work an extra hour/hour and a half unpaid.
Thanks for all the replies so far. 
It was more a question of whether it's legal, hence the title, and the question.
I'm not asking if it's a solution. I haven't described the business, so it's difficult for anybody to comment whether it's appropriate or not. I've seen it work in another industry.
I'm often 'late' myself, being in charge of two young kids plays havoc with my time management. I've been self-employed for years, and always charged for units of hours after my arrival. It wasn't my intention to debate the wrongs or rights of punctuality.
This line of work is very much unique.
Jasper, will mail you thanks.
It was more a question of whether it's legal, hence the title, and the question.
I'm not asking if it's a solution. I haven't described the business, so it's difficult for anybody to comment whether it's appropriate or not. I've seen it work in another industry.
I'm often 'late' myself, being in charge of two young kids plays havoc with my time management. I've been self-employed for years, and always charged for units of hours after my arrival. It wasn't my intention to debate the wrongs or rights of punctuality.
This line of work is very much unique.
Jasper, will mail you thanks.
Bit off topic, but Royal Mail did (don't know if they still do) run a draw where people who had no sick leave in the year were entered into and they could win a new mini.
You could run a similar thing, but incorporate a "3 strikes and you're out" element for lateness?
IME clockwatching often makes staff unhappy, but then my work isn't seriously time dependent in that sense, so it may be less relevant.
You could run a similar thing, but incorporate a "3 strikes and you're out" element for lateness?
IME clockwatching often makes staff unhappy, but then my work isn't seriously time dependent in that sense, so it may be less relevant.
The company I work for, which is a manufacturing company, has recently started a bonus scheme along these lines in an attempt to tackle excessive absence. The bonus is paid monthly and obviously if you have a day off sick, you don't get it. Also, clock in a second late and it's gone.
However genuine the reason for being late, puncture etc., there's no movement. If you have a problem on the first day of the month, there's no incentive to get in on time for the rest of the month, besides avoiding the usual disciplinary procedures.
At the moment the bonus is a flat rate for all non-management staff, although, I've suggested there should be a set amount per-person, but this should then be divided equally between those who are punctual so that everybody gains a little more when everybody is in. I'd imagine this would stop an employee from telling other employees they look a bit ill and should take tomorrow off...
Incidently, the scheme as it is at present, has had no affect on attendance - it's getting worse rather than better.
However genuine the reason for being late, puncture etc., there's no movement. If you have a problem on the first day of the month, there's no incentive to get in on time for the rest of the month, besides avoiding the usual disciplinary procedures.
At the moment the bonus is a flat rate for all non-management staff, although, I've suggested there should be a set amount per-person, but this should then be divided equally between those who are punctual so that everybody gains a little more when everybody is in. I'd imagine this would stop an employee from telling other employees they look a bit ill and should take tomorrow off...
Incidently, the scheme as it is at present, has had no affect on attendance - it's getting worse rather than better.
magic torch said:
I'm often 'late' myself, being in charge of two young kids plays havoc with my time management.
Hold on. So you acknowledge that circumstances beyond your control can make you late but are happy for your 'bonus' scheme to penalise those who are late for similar reasons?
Isn't that a bit hypocritical? Yes, you are the boss but there is nothing like "one rule for them and one rule for us" to alienate management from workers.
JonRB said:
magic torch said:
I'm often 'late' myself, being in charge of two young kids plays havoc with my time management.
Hold on. So you acknowledge that circumstances beyond your control can make you late but are happy for your 'bonus' scheme to penalise those who are late for similar reasons?
Isn't that a bit hypocritical? Yes, you are the boss but there is nothing like "one rule for them and one rule for us" to alienate management from workers.
I don't work for the company, nor am I the Boss.
My wife works in an industry where she can't be late, which leaves me responsible for our children.
For this very reason I never work in industries where punctuality matters.
HTH
magic torch said:
I don't work for the company, nor am I the Boss.
Oh, sorry, my mistake. Your original post sounded like it was your business and you were seeking advice on whether to offer your staff a bonus for turning up early.
It was the words "I'm considering offering a bonus for turning up for work 10 minutes early every day for the week" that made it sound like you (as the boss) were considering offering a bonus to your staff.
Edited by JonRB on Sunday 5th November 16:45
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