When it comes to attendance, a lot of people don’t understand what events really are unavoidable and what events they could have planned for in order to avoid missing work. The basic rule of thumb is that if it can be expected, then it shouldn’t keep you from going to work.
There are a lot of reasons that people skip work and most of them can be planned for. Here are some of the main events that can be planned for in advance:
You Need To Run Errands – I have graduates from my class who have been absent because they needed to take care of a few things. This is NOT a good reason to miss work. Most businesses have extended hours now and you can take care of your errands after work. Or, do it on your day off. Don’t call in because of it!
Your Child Is Mildly Sick – It is important to have a plan in place for when your child is too sick to go to daycare, but not so sick that you really have to stay with them. Find a friend, a neighbor or a relative who can be your “backup” for when your child needs to spend the day on the couch watching Barney and drinking orange juice. Your child WILL get sick, so you need to plan for that to happen and have a system in place for when it does.
Your Babysitter Calls In – like having a sick child, this is something that will definitely happen at some point, so you need to have a plan in place.
Appointments – these need to be scheduled when you are not working. There are lots of clinics that are open extended hours. If it is a meeting with your child’s school, tell them that you can’t miss work and that you have to arrange a different time.
Transportation Problems – you should have a plan in place for when your car breaks down. Can you take the bus? Is there a neighbor who could drive you? Can you and your spouse carpool?
I am not saying that there are never appropriate times to miss work, but most absences occur because we are not prepared for life events that WILL happen! Take a moment to think through these things and figure out a solution that will work for you and your family. An employee with good attendance is like gold to an employer. Your reward will be job stability and the appreciation of your supervisor.