Maybe it’s the military in my blood, but I try to be on time or early everywhere I need to be. You may feel the same way. In fact, many military types say, If you are on time, then you’re late. Call me crazy, but being consistently late gives a bad impression. There is nothing fashionable about it. It basically screams, I don’t care and I’d rather be somewhere else. Okay, maybe in certain instances it’s fashionable, but certainly not in the work place. Can you tell I’m frustrated? This post has been a long time coming, since 1999 as a matter of fact, when I reentered the civilian workforce.
Sometimes, I find that the civilian sector is lacking in, well, military discipline. Chuckle if you will, but I’m serious. Now, I’m not talking about the up and at ‘em runs at zero dark thirty before you go to work, nor am I saying that everyone has to be uber disciplined in appearance or physique. Rather, I am talking about accountability folks. You know if your spouse showed up consistently late for work, he or she would be slapped with charges akin to dereliction of duty. Not to mention that multiple infractions could lead to office hours/NJP or even an administrative separation. It’s just not tolerated. So, why could it be put up with outside of the military?
Behavior like this depletes office morale and undermines the collective effort to abide by a particular organization’s set of rules or schedule. Sure, there are extenuating circumstances like your dog destroyed your Manolo Blahniks that you were going to wear to the big meeting or your car was rear-ended as it sat in your garage. Stranger things have happened. Still, excuses get tired after awhile. We all have problems, and it is hard to believe that your coworker is late again because of one of the aforementioned stories or that you have to call in sick because you may have the sniffles, and it just so happens to be the day before a three-day weekend. Argh!
What say you? Does it frustrate you when a coworker acts more like an irresponsible child than an accountable adult? Is the civilian sector too lax? Is it a generational thing? Am I just being uptight? Nevermind, don’t answer that last one. I already know what you wise-cracking folks are going to say.
Okay, now that I have virtually vented, I feel a bit calmer. *sigh*
5 Comments
This sounds like some of the civilians my husband has in his shop. I do think, in many ways, that the civilian sector is too lax. On the other hand, I know some civilians who work harder in their government jobs than some active duty. I guess it just depends on the person and their personal work ethic.
Good point Michelle! My perception, which may be skewed, is that this type of behavior is often more tolerated in the civilian sector. Of course, that, too, may depend on the industry and a particular organization’s culture.
Thanks for reading!
But that’s what makes the civilian workplace so much more fun than the military!! My husband cannot wait to get a civilian job when he’s done with the military in a few years. Then he can actually call in sick when he has the flu, and not worry about a severe dressing-down if his car breaks down or every now and then or he (very) occasionally oversleeps and he can’t make it to work on time.
I can see why one might be excited to join the civilian ranks again. Still, I don’t think what you are saying necessarily makes it ‘fun’ though. It’s not super fun when your coworkers are consistently late and you have to pick up the slack.
Jane, there are definite advantages to working in the civilian sector, don’t get me wrong. I just have a tough time wrapping my brain around someone who acts irresponsibily on a constant basis or someone who has no team work ethic.
Car break downs and the flu or the occasional instance of accidentally oversleeping are different than what I am essentially getting at.
Thanks for your post! I always love to read how people react to my writing. Have a great weekend!
I agree! I think it is a combination of generational and our culture changing. I have a friend who everyone knows will be 30 minutes late for everything and her husband jokes and thinks it is just her and we should all see it as funny. Her being late in turn makes their whole family late. It is not funny, it is a reflection on character. My clients would not like me to be 30 minutes late to an appointment or her hairdresser 30 minutes late for her hair appointment, so why is it to be viewed as not important for her to be ontime? Does she not value her own characer enough to stand by her word she would be somewhere at a designated time?