Time is the most precious resource because you can’t get it back. The answer to this question really matters because you can’t get wasted time back. People often think of money as their most valuable resource, and while it is important because it allows you to buy the things you need and want, you can get money back.

It is particularly rude to be late to a formal or important occasion such as a wedding or funeral, or one involving many parts and precise timings such as an elaborate dinner party or civic event.

Being on time shows others that you are a man of your word. Being punctual shows you are dependable. People know they can rely on such a man – if he says he will be there, he’ll be there. But if a man is not punctual, others cannot depend on him — they do not know where he will be when they need him.

Punctuality demonstrates your willingness to get up early, plan and make every effort to complete your work on time. Punctuality is a sign of professionalism and helps you stand out as a reliable and trustworthy employee. Being punctual helps you establish your reputation as a dependable and consistent worker.

It Makes You Difficult to Work With Over time this lack of effort and attention to your responsibilities will impact your entire team and they may want to avoid working with you. This may lead to challenges for everyone involved and could even lead to you being reprimanded for your performance or dismissed.

So, you could dock someone for being a few minutes late. However, most employers do grant a grace period of five to seven minutes to be realistic about “emergency” situations.

If so, there is no mandatory grace period for clocking in and out in California. And, yes, it is legal for employers to write employees up for being a minute late, even if the employer is mistaken about the time. The biggest concern here, from a legal standpoint, is that you might not be getting paid for all your time.

An employer has a clause which states that staff who are late for a shift, resulting in cover being brought in, will be sent home and not paid.

An employer can have shifts of only 1.5 hours. The California rule, however, requires that if a shift is cancelled or not scheduled last minute, an employee with a 1.5-hour shift must receive a minimum of two hours in reporting-time penalties.

Because California labor law mentions a two hour minimum and a four hour maximum, many have construed this to mean the law requires employees to be scheduled a minimum number of work hours per day. It simply requires employers to pay at least half of the employee’s scheduled shift if the full shift isn’t worked.

There is no law that says an employer has to schedule you for some minimum number of hours for a shift.

Employees must be paid for at least 3 hours of pay at the minimum wage each time they’re required to report to work, or come to work for short periods. This 3-hour minimum doesn’t apply if the employee isn’t available to work the full 3 hours.

In most cases, yes. Federal employment laws—most notably the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—allow for a number of employer changes, including changing the employee’s schedule.

Except in unusual circumstances, calling in five minutes before your shift is about to begin is never advisable, according to Elkins. See: Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance. ]

In most cases, a minimum of 12 hours notice would be expected as reasonable notice to cancel a shift. It may be reasonable to have more notice of a requirement to work (rather than not work). My employer normally gives out the next week rota normally on the Thursday. It seems to be getting later and later.

Yes, in some cases. Generally, unless an employment contract or a collective bargaining agreement states otherwise, an employer may change an employee’s job duties, schedule or work location without the employee’s consent.