How to Stop Staff Clocking in Late & Deal with Employee Lateness in Construction

Introduction

Late employees slow down projects, disrupt teams, and increase costs. In the construction, utilities, civil engineering, groundworks, and traffic management industries, where every hour counts, lateness isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a huge financial loss.

So, how do you stop staff from clocking in late? What’s the best way to deal with consistent lateness? And is clocking in legally required? In this post, we’ll break down proven solutions and how geofencing time tracking can eliminate late arrivals for good.

Why Do Employees Arrive Late?

Before solving the issue, it's important to understand why lateness happens:

🚧 Poor time management – Some workers struggle to leave home on time.
🚧 Traffic & transport delays – Unreliable commutes are a common excuse.
🚧 Lack of accountability – If there are no consequences, lateness continues.
🚧 Buddy clock-ins – A colleague clocks in for a late worker to cover for them.

If you’re experiencing consistent lateness across your workforce, it’s time to take a structured, tech-driven approach.

How to Stop Staff Clocking in Late

1. Use a Geofencing Clock-In System

A geofencing time tracking app ensures that workers can only clock in when physically on-site. If they arrive late, it’s automatically logged—eliminating false clock-ins.

With SubTrack’s geofencing system:
✅ Workers must be on-site to start their shift.
✅ Late arrivals are automatically flagged.
✅ You get real-time visibility of who’s arrived and who hasn’t.

This eliminates "buddy clock-ins" and ensures fair, accurate time tracking.

2. Enforce a Clear Lateness Policy

Workers should know the consequences of lateness. Your policy should include:
📌 What time shifts start and end.
📌 What happens after multiple late arrivals.
📌 How lateness affects pay and bonuses.

Clearly communicate this policy during onboarding and remind employees regularly.

3. Reward Punctuality & Penalise Lateness

📈 Incentives work better than punishments. Consider rewarding employees who maintain 100% attendance with small bonuses or perks.

At the same time, repeat lateness should have consequences, such as:
❌ Loss of bonus pay.
❌ Disciplinary action after multiple offenses.
❌ Requirement to make up lost time.

With SubTrack’s reporting features, you can track lateness trends and make fair decisions based on real-time data.

4. Improve Communication & Set Expectations

Sometimes, lateness is a sign of workplace issues. Have direct conversations with consistently late workers and ask:
👷 “Is something preventing you from arriving on time?”
👷 “Do you need help with transport?”
👷 “Do you understand the impact of being late?”

A simple conversation can reveal underlying issues and help you resolve them proactively.

Is Clocking In a Legal Requirement?

In the UK, employers aren’t legally required to use clock-in systems, but they must:
✅ Keep accurate records of working hours.
✅ Ensure compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998.
✅ Track overtime and breaks correctly.

Using a clock-in system like SubTrack makes it easier to comply with labour laws and avoid disputes over hours worked.

What to Say to Someone Who Is Always Late?

If an employee is consistently late, it’s time for a serious conversation. Keep it professional and to the point:

📌 Step 1: Address the Issue Directly
"I’ve noticed you’ve been arriving late quite often. Is there a reason for this?"

📌 Step 2: Explain the Impact
"When you’re late, it affects the whole team and delays work. We need everyone on time to keep things running smoothly."

📌 Step 3: Set Clear Expectations
"Going forward, we need you here by [start time] every day. If this continues, we’ll have to take further action."

📌 Step 4: Offer Support (If Appropriate)
"If there’s anything preventing you from getting here on time, let me know and we’ll see how we can help."

This direct but fair approach helps set boundaries while giving the worker a chance to improve.

Final Thoughts: How to Stop Employees Coming in Late

If lateness is affecting your business, take proactive steps to fix it:

✅ Use a geofencing clock-in system to prevent fake clock-ins.
✅ Create a clear lateness policy and enforce it.
✅ Reward punctuality & penalize consistent lateness.
✅ Have direct conversations with repeat offenders.

Want to eliminate late arrivals for good? Get started with SubTrack today!