Ingredients for Success: Attendance Matters!
Building a successful career doesn't happen overnight. It often takes years of consistent and reliable performance to work your way up through the ranks. Frequent absences can lead to write-ups, demotions, or even termination! By attending work each and every day you'll already be well ahead of the game.
How can you avoid absences and continue to improve that spotless attendance record? SourcePoint has prepared a number of recommendations to help keep you on the fast track for success on the job!
It's easy to forget about future commitments if you don't maintain an up-to-date calendar. In this day and age, there is no shortage of tools that allow you to track ongoing activities. Mobile apps like Any.do, Fantastical 2, Outlook Calendar, and Business Calendar 2 will help you keep better track of your ongoing work and personal commitments. If you have a pre-planned appointment that may conflict with your work schedule, notify your manager or human resources representative as soon as possible.
There is no worse feeling than waking up late for work. Set your alarm the night before and plan plenty of time to get ready in the morning. Getting into a routine will help set your natural sleep rhythm, making it easier to wake up on time. Most phones will give you the option to set your alarm to go off on a reoccurring basis, so you can set it once and forget it!
Getting to and from work can be tricky depending on the availability of transportation. If you're using public transportation, make sure you arrive at the bus stop or pickup point with plenty of time to spare. Familiarize yourself with the bus schedule and routes prior to your first day on the job.
If bus transportation is not available, do your best to find a reliable co-worker, friend, or family member who can carpool to work with you. Even if your friend or family member doesn't work in the same location, your place of employment might be on their way.
If you're driving your own car to work, make sure to keep it in good working condition. Breakdowns happen, but can often be avoided with some preventative maintenance. Periodically check your tires for leaks, regularly change your oil, and keep your gas tank well above the "empty" line.
Finding reliable child care can be difficult at times, but there are ways to prevent absences due to complications in child care. If your primary caregiver has an unexpected cancellation, have a backup option in place in the case of emergency. If your child attends school, keep an eye on the weather conditions to see if there is any heavy snow buildup in the forecast. If temperatures fall well below freezing, or if more than a few inches of snow is expected for the following day, make sure you have a family member or babysitter on standby to take care of your child in the event of a school closure.
Many local resources exist to help families find reliable child care. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families' YoungStar program provides a full resource guide for local childcare solutions.
Everyone gets sick now and then, but there are a number of steps you can take to stay in good health. Eating healthy foods, living an active lifestyle, and getting eight hours of sleep will help keep you alert and functioning at peak efficiency. Discuss your sick day policy with your recruiter or employer. Abuse or overuse of sick days may lead to write-ups or even termination!
In many situations employers require employees to give a few weeks notice prior to an absence. Avoid no call, no show absences at all costs! By giving your employer advance warning of your absence, they will have time to find someone to help cover your position. A non-emergency no call, no show absence will leave all your co-workers scrambling to keep up and will likely land you in trouble.
The more work you miss, the less understanding your employer will be for the reasons behind your absence. Absences by an employee who misses work once or twice a year due to extreme circumstances may occasionally be overlooked, but an employee who misses work on a regular basis will be hard-pressed to justify their poor attendance record.
Attendance is critical to success. Know your work schedule and do everything you can to show up on time. Consistent attendance will help build a solid working relationship with your employer, and will play an important part in future pay raises and promotions!
Have any Workplace Attendance Questions? Give us a Call!
If you have any questions regarding attendance policy with your current placement or a potential new employer, feel free to contact your recruiter for guidance. SourcePoint is always more than happy to find constructive feedback or recommendations to help guarantee your continued success!
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