Turning up to work on time is a fairly non-negotiable part of the job description, but there seems to be a little confusion about what 'on time' means. Gen Z have spoken and almost half of them say being between five to 10 minutes late is 'as good' as being on time. It's even developed into a TikTok trend where employers are recording what time their employees show up to work.
Jim Moore, employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, tells Metro this is a battle that has been fought since time immemorial. To settle the debate, what does constitute being on time? ' "On time" means you're at your work station ready to begin work at your start time,' Jim explains. 'Ten minutes late every day adds up to 50 minutes a week, which is almost 40 hours of work time over the course of a year.'
He agrees it's very much a Gen Z attitude and the stats back it up. A 2024 study by Meeting Canary polled office workers and found that 69% of Boomers believe lateness is 'not acceptable'. For Millennials, 39% would be forgiving if a colleague was 10 minutes late, while only 26% of Generation X would overlook the same tardiness. Just a fifth of Boomers would let a 10 minute lateness slide.
'Gen Z entered the workforce during a time of unprecedented upheaval, and discipline around timings has been looser,' Jim explains. 'Most of them have never experienced the rigid nine-to-five routine, and they don't understand why arriving five minutes late matters if they're getting their work done. Older managers see persistent lateness as unprofessional, while younger workers see the requirement as an outdated relic.'
A chief HR officer on TikTok (@thehrchic) spoke about the impression being 10 minutes late leaves on your co-workers. 'It looks like you're just expecting grace from others,' she says. 'Once this becomes predictable, it becomes part of your reputation. You think it's five minutes, they think it's who you are.'
Even if Gen Z are adamant the few minutes difference is still on time, bosses clearly see it differently. 'Being late regularly is when it becomes a real problem,' Jim adds. 'If the issue continues, it could escalate to formal conversations and potentially disciplinary action. The worst offenders could face dismissal for gross misconduct if they repeatedly fail to turn up on time despite repeated warnings.'
Jim says, 'Smart employers will have an explicit conversation about expectations to make sure everyone understands the rules. If start times are genuinely important, explain why. If they're not, stop pretending they are and focus on output instead.'