How to Apologize for Being Late to Work

Most of the time when you're late to work, it’s due to circumstances that are out of your control, like a sick child or traffic jam. Whatever the reason for the holdup, it’s important to let your supervisor know you'll be late and communicate openly and sincerely with your boss about what happened once you finally arrive. If you show up especially late, or it’s not your first offense, you may want to follow up with a short email offering an honest explanation of what happened.

1. Calling Ahead

 Gauge how late you're going to be. Take stock of the conditions holding you up and estimate how much longer it will be until you can make it in. Depending on what you do, a few minutes may not be the end of the world. If you think you’ll be delayed for a while, however, you should always make it a point to let someone know.

 Call your workplace when you're going to be more than 5 minutes late. Unless you’re confident you can make it in on time despite the setback, it’s usually best to pick up the phone and let someone know you’re running behind. Inform them of what’s going on and how much longer it will be before you can get there.

 Take the day’s events into consideration and call sooner if necessary. Your tardiness may cause more of an issue depending on what you’ve got going that day. If your store is running a big sale or you’ve got an important meeting on the books, for instance, you’ll definitely want to alert your employer or client right away.

 Ask to speak directly to your boss. Once you’ve got someone on the phone, request to be put on the line with your manager, shift leader, or one of your boss’s direct subordinates. This will help ensure that the message gets relayed to the right person.

2.Apologizing in Person

 Address the matter with your boss as soon as you show up. Make issuing your apologizing priority. After you walk in the door. Chances are, your boss will wave it off and you can get to work. Otherwise, they’ll have a chance to talk to you about it before you punch in.

 Offer a brief explanation for why you’re late. Once you’ve got your boss’s ear, give them an account of the circumstances that caused your tardiness. Your apology should be explicit, truthful, and to-the-point. The more elaborate a tale you tell, the more it will sound like you’re just trying to cover for yourself.

 Be sincere. As you issue your apology, make an effort to sound properly remorseful. Your boss will be able to tell if you don’t really mean what you’re saying. Your best bet is to simply be honest and accept responsibility for your mistake.

 End the conversation with a "thank you." Regardless of whether your boss chews you out or lets you off the hook, take a moment to express your gratitude. After all, they’re the reason you still have a job. Ingratiating yourself to them might might also help soften them up a little if they’re on the warpath over your late arrival.

3.Writing an Apology Letter

  

 Send an apology letter if you happen to be exceptionally late. In the event that you’re a no-show for more than an hour, it may be a good idea to follow up your face-to-face apology with a written one. Taking the time to compose a formal letter will show that you’re genuinely remorseful and help you get back into your employer’s good graces.

Use a formal structure for your letter. Place your full name, address, and email address at the top of the letter. On the following line, note the date that you’re writing. Beneath that, display your boss's name and email address and the physical address of the company.

 Open your letter with a traditional greeting. Start with the word “Dear,” followed by your boss’s appropriate title. It’s customary to use a given title like "Mr.", “Mrs.", or “Miss,” even if you’re ordinarily on casual terms. Never refer to your employer by their first name.

 Present your apology in the body of the letter. Explain that the purpose of your letter is to go above and beyond a simple verbal apology. Then, summarize your reason for being late, even if you’ve already talked it out with your boss in person. Don’t forget to note the date and time to provide context for the situation.

 Show that you understand the consequences of your tardiness. Since it’s hard to take away a sense of tone from a written apology, you’ll want to include a line that conveys that you regret being late. Acknowledge how your mistake impacted your employer and coworkers, or what it cost the company if there were financial consequences.

SOURCE: www.wikihow.com