i'm sorry i'm late, but

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‘I’m sorry I’m late, but …’CFOs have heard all of the excuses in the book


CFOs Frown on Tardiness

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Think showing up late to work – even if the job’s getting done – is OK?

Think again.

Only 1 in 10 CFOs said it doesn’t matter when employees arrive, as

long as they are getting their work done on time.

Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

They should arrive on time so others can

rely on them during set hours43%

It’s OK if they’re occasionally late, as

long as it’s not a pattern and people don’t

perceive them as slacking off

47%

It doesn’t matter when they arrive, as

long as they get their work done on time10%


A Worker’s Perspective

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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers

In a separate survey, workers were asked, “How often do you arrive

late to work?” Their responses:

Total Ages 18-34 Ages 35-54 Ages 55+

Every day 7% 12% 6% 1%

A few times a week 12% 17% 10% 7%

A few times a month 15% 19% 14% 8%

A few times a year 31% 29% 33% 30%

Never 34% 23% 36% 54%

Yes 43%

No 57%

Some workers admitted that their productivity has suffered because a

colleague was late to work:


Creative Excuses

“I drove to my old job out of habit.”

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Creative Excuses

“I thought I was still on vacation.”

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Creative Excuses

“I had nothing to wear.”

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Creative Excuses

“I thought it was Saturday.”

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Creative Excuses

“My hair got caught in a fan.”

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Creative Excuses

“I super-glued my eye thinking it was contact solution.”

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Creative Excuses

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“Geese chased

me on my way to

the car.”



Creative Excuses

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“My cat delivered

its litter of kittens.”



Creative Excuses

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“Someone spilled their coffee all over me on the

way to work.”



Creative Excuses

“I was stuck in an elevator with a kid that pushed the

buttons for all the floors.”

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Creative Excuses

“A truck full of fish flipped

over on the highway.”

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Creative Excuses

“My dog ate my car keys.”

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Creative Excuses

“I got locked in the gas station restroom and had to wait for

someone to get me out.”

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Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the

world’s first and largest specialized staffing

service for temporary accounting, finance and

bookkeeping professionals.

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i'm sorry i'm late, but

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