Whether you're a student or parent, admin assistant or office manager, there's one thing that's almost guaranteed to stunt your career progression and diminish your prospects: perpetual tardiness. We're all humans, we've all slept through an alarm and we've all been subject to powers to beyond our control - we're talking tedious traffic jams - but being late on frequent basis can spell real trouble for both the culprit and their co-workers.

The cause

It seems that the biggest causes of lateness is traffic, closely, followed by oversleeping and getting the kids ready and out of the door. But for anyone regularly finding reasons to excuse their inability to get to the office on time, it's time to change this career-ending habit.
Being late for work on a regular basis is often down to lots of issues, rather than a single cause - such as a lack of self discipline or an ability to get organised. Adrenaline could even be a contributing factor, with some people enjoying the rush of excitement that comes with an impending deadline (or in this case, contracted hours). For others, being late may be a way of striking out. Employers should keep a close eye on this, as the situation may be a little more sensitive and require a tad more understanding to get to the root of the problem.
The trouble with being late - and in particular, being late often - is the impact it can have on someone's long term career. No one wants to seen as unreliable and uncommitted, but ultimately, never turning up on time means that's exactly what'll happen. When you're late, people stop taking you seriously, giving you juicy projects, or keeping you in mind for a promotion.

How to stop being late

First of all, it takes a conscious choice to change. Making a commitment to get into work on time is the first stage, but then it's important to figure out the reason for perpetual lateness. Once that mystery is uncovered, employees could:
1. Set their alarm 15 minutes earlier
2. Prepare outfits and lunch the night before to save time in the morning
3. Reward themselves when they arrive early or on time
4. Pin down their most frequent excuses for being late, then wipe them out
5. Ask to work flexibly and start half an hour later
6. Arrive early but leave on time (you can talk that over with your employer)

Being punctual and reliable can do wonders for someone's career. It can also help co-workers to stay motivated, and business to stay productive. The key is to identify where the problem lies and figure out the best solution.