Punctuality in the workplace is essential, and is one of the major keys in conducting good business ethics. Though a candidate may be qualified for a job, the first impression at a job interview always starts with punctuality. North Americans value “being on time” to work and failure to do so can result in: a bad reputation, penalization, extermination, etc. Employee lateness leads to substantial finical cost such as Loss of productivity for the late employee; Lost of productivity for the employee who may cover, and loss of time for administrators who may have to deal with the lateness. Tardy employee behavior often disrupts the day’s schedule, and is viewed as negligence to the organization and its values.
Statistics show that thirteen percent of workers say that they show up to work late once at least every week, and twenty four percent say they show up late at least once every month. Twenty seven percent of employee tardiness blamed traffic as the reason for being late. 10 percent pointed to getting their children ready for school or day care; and 11 percent blamed falling back asleep. Other reasoning’s for being late include forgetting something at home, feeling sick, and misplacing house or car keys. Statistics also found that sixty four percent of employers reported that their company’s number one late day was Monday.
Although North America is very strict on punctuality in the workplace, some cultures are very diverse in their reaction to workplace lateness. In the Philippines they use the native lingo 'Bahala na,'' which means “what will be will be” which expresses how lateness is excepted in the workplace and the over all culture of the Philippines.