Documents for Business

In excess of 1,000 customisable documents covering every conceivable business issue.

Introduction to this document

Timekeeping policy

It’s important that employees turn up to work on time, don’t take excessively long breaks and don’t leave work early, unless this has been expressly permitted. Our timekeeping policy statement sets out your rules and regulations regarding timekeeping, making it a disciplinary offence if the employee fails to comply.

Time is money

When an employee starts to lose interest in the job, one of the first things that’s likely to slip is their timekeeping, which will probably become more and more erratic. They will probably start coming in late, taking long lunch breaks and leaving early. Of course, everyone will be late occasionally due to circumstances outside their control, for example train problems or a car breakdown, but it will become a real problem for you when this starts to be a regular occurrence. You’re paying the employee to work their normal working hours, so it’s quite reasonable to expect them to actually be at work during these hours. Our Timekeeping Policy statement emphasises the importance of punctuality, the need for the employee to contact their manager if they are going to be late and the requirement for prior authorisation to leave early. It also makes clear that the employee has no right to be paid for time not worked and that persistent poor timekeeping is a disciplinary offence. Make sure you monitor timekeeping closely and take action when you spot persistent or serious offenders.