Can you be fired for being 5 minutes late? Are there state rules on this? Or do i have to check with HR?

Question

my supervisor sent an email to the staff about being late and leaving early (again by like five min). the problem is the entire staff is there an hour before he walks in. and really does shutting down your computer 5 minutes early really make a differenence? the commute for him and actually the others are like 15 minutes tops. my commute is like 2 and half hours and I get to work an hour early.i have heard he said he did not care if a plane fell from the sky in front of your bus or car.... he has started spying on us too.

the problem is like i said his staff is there an hour before him. and i am there an hour before i am due to work. and i leave an hour later (in the summer months). the last person to leave goes home at 6:00. there was no meeting just an email sent and no our manager was not copied on that email. the nature of our job dictates we call in if we are going to be late.

oh i almost forgot my job moved and i moved with the job (3 times mind you) and we had choices of times I set my own time. If it is NOT my jobs problem on my commute then why do they pay mileage for some areas? He has not always been my supervisor (this is for the person speaking on my commute NOT being my jobs problem)

Answer 1

If you are in an "at will" state, an employer can fire you for any reason under the sun without any recourse on your part. Most states in the US are "at will" states.

Answer 2

When you are hired at a job and given set hours to be there, then it is perfectly acceptable for the employer to ask you to remain for that time period. Your commute is really not your employers problem. You choose where to live and where to work. Instead of getting to work an hour early, just stay that last five minutes.

I'm not sure what you mean by spying, but an employer is allowed to monitor your work and to track what you do online. A lot of workplaces have cameras set up and that is perfectly acceptable. If the employer is following you around after hours, that's just weird and that could be against the law.

To find out the labor laws in your state go to your states labor board website.

Answer 3

Managers may have preferred associates clock in earlier for the electronics area, but that means YOU HAVE HAVE TO BE THERE too. You werent working, you decided to break when you thought was appropriate, you were outside taking a personal call, all while on the clock. You knew you were scheduled for 8:30, yet you clocked in at 8am and disappeared. In an essence, you did steal 30 to 35 mins of pay, to do what you wanted. I know callers can leave a voicemail. You will screw yourself even more if you try to create some crazy idea that this was even remotely connected to wrongful discrimination. This was a firing for violating company policy, nothing else. There is nothing more to do and taking it any further could result in bigger mess that you can never fully clean up

Answer 4

imagineworld is correct - if you are in an "at will state" and not part of a union then there is not too much you can do unless you can prove harassment or discrimination. If you are in California, you have better odds - that state has some pretty tough laws comparatively for the protection of employees.

The spying part is interesting - they can put cameras in public areas and keep logs of your computer use (company property) however, regarding phone surveillance,unless you have agreed to it and/or are notified of the company's policy of recording calls, it is not legal to use any part of a call you might be part of as part of disciplinary action (or in a court of law).

Answer 5

Well.. obviouisly he is a difficult boss and that is what we have to put up with in the corporate world and there is nothing we can do about it. Yes, he can fire you for being 5 minutes late particularly if it has happened a number of times by the same individual

Answer 6

Each employer sets their own policy. As long as the staff is notified in advance of what the policy is...yes they can enforce it by firing someone. That doesn't mean it couldn't be overturned by lawsuit...but just how many people can afford that?

He sounds like a butthole who's management style is to rule by intimidation and fear. I'd begin keeping an eye out for a different job, one much closer to home unless you can afford to move.

Have worked for an idiot like that. It's not fun. I sympathize with you and hope it works out well for you.

Answer 7

Yes you can be fired for being late. Perhaps you can offer to do extra work or stay later to make up for the lost time or better yet find another job with a better Boss.

Answer 8

Yes, you can be fired. The rules apply to everybody, and - unless you have a contract or policy manual that states otherwise - your boss gets to make stuff up as he goes along, and you just should STFU if you want to keep your job.

The spying you describe could be criminal, if the cams are in the restrooms or changing areas.

Answer 9

your boss is just another corporate ******. that's why i am independent in my field. i am a radical that would like to see most of the corps brought down by any means that works. i know you (govt./corps) are probably spying on me. so, kiss my bony white butt. oddyerdy - alias "ain't sceard" ps - i am old school get your boy friend/husband to kick his a** or give his office the frog juice treatment. find a dead frog put it in an airtight container for 3-4 weeks then pour it under his desk. i did this in high school the floor will HAVE to be evacuated.

Answer 10

It all depends on what type of employment you have.... if it is "at will" employment either the employ or the employer can terminante the employment at any time with out reason.
Other jobs have guidline they must follow such as contracts or protocal they must adhear too.