Working hours: Line manager briefing on timekeeping

Overview

This line manager briefing examines the law and good practice on the effective management of timekeeping. 

Line managers should take steps to address timekeeping where, for example, an employee regularly arrives at work late, overstays his or her breaks, takes too many breaks, leaves work before the allocated time or frequently fails to turn up on time for meetings or team briefings. 

Line managers will often be able to resolve a problem through open discussion with the employee at an early stage. If, however, an informal approach does not lead to a satisfactory improvement, it may be necessary to instigate formal disciplinary action. Line managers should aim to be fair, impartial, consistent and reasonable when dealing with timekeeping issues.

The briefing includes information on:

1. Unsatisfactory timekeeping
• the importance of acting promptly
• potential reasons for lateness
• approach where lateness due to personal problems
2. Policies and procedures on timekeeping
• rules on timekeeping
• procedure when timekeeping unsatisfactory
• monitoring
• deductions from pay
3. Informal approach to tackling unsatisfactory timekeeping
• holding a discussion with the employee
4. Formal procedures
• disciplinary interview
• the right to be accompanied
• giving warnings
• the shelf-life of a warning
• keeping records
5. Dismissal on grounds of unsatisfactory timekeeping
• (repealed) statutory dismissal and disciplinary procedures
6. Test yourself

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