Late Policy

To maintain a fair, efficient, and safe workplace, all employees are expected to arrive on time for their scheduled shifts. Repeated lateness impacts team planning, production flow, and safety protocols. This policy outlines how lateness is handled and what employees must do if they are late.

What Counts as Being Late

• Arriving more than 5 minutes after your scheduled start time is considered late.

• Arriving more than 30 minutes late without prior notice may count as two occurrences.

If You Know You Will Be Late

If you are running late and haven’t yet arrived at work:

1. You must phone the HR Manager (03 7037 1346) as soon as possible to notify them of the delay and provide your estimated arrival time.

2. Text messages, emails, or Slack messages are not acceptable substitutes for a phone call.

3. Failure to phone the HR Manager will result in the lateness being treated as unnotified, and may escalate the consequences.

If You Arrive Late Without Prior Notice

If you arrive late without calling ahead:

1. Clock in using Deputy immediately upon arrival.

2. Report directly to your Team Leader and inform them that you are late.

This step is essential for:

• Work planning – your responsibilities may need to be adjusted.

• Safety – we must know who is on site at all times.

• Accurate records – lateness must be correctly logged and addressed.

Failure to inform your Team Leader after clocking in may result in further disciplinary action.

Lateness Consequences

Lateness will be monitored weekly, and the following actions will apply:

• First time in a week – Verbal reminder and internal note.

• Second time in a week – Formal written warning.

• Third time in a week – Meeting with management and possible shift review.

• Fourth time or more in a week – Disciplinary action, including possible suspension or termination, depending on the situation.
  
  

Lateness Tracking & Reset

• Lateness is tracked weekly.

• Lateness counts reset every 4 weeks, unless a consistent pattern of lateness is observed.
  
  

Our Expectations

• If you know in advance you’ll be late, phone the HR Manager (03 7037 1346) immediately.

• Upon arrival, clock in first, then report to your Team Leader before beginning work.

• Punctuality is essential to protect safety, support your team, and maintain smooth operations.