- ‘There was too much traffic’ …
- ‘A family member was sick’ …
- ‘My car broke down’ …
- ‘My babysitter let me down’ …
- ‘I was stopped by the police’ …
- ‘My pet ran away’ …
- ‘My water pipes burst’
Excuses for being late
Weather
The weather is one of the most frequent excuses for arriving late to work. Major weather events like heavy rain, flooding, or snowstorms can make it very difficult to drive safely and sometimes happen with little to no notice. To inform your employer that you’ll be late due to these issues, you can call ahead of time. You might even want to inform your manager if you can’t make it that day or that you’re thinking about working from home if you can’t drive safely to work.
Traffic
An additional common justification for being late is a traffic problem. Traffic can slow down due to significant accidents, construction, and other events, which could affect your commute and ability to arrive at work on time. Although this justification is frequent, it is best to only use it occasionally so that your employer can be confident that your tardiness is not a habit or the result of unprofessional behavior.
Family illness
Another acceptable justification for being late is taking care of a sick or elderly family member. Inform your manager as soon as you can if you need to take care of someone before coming into the office. In general, illness is out of your control, but if symptoms start to appear the night before, you might want to notify your supervisor. You might not always have that type of warning though because some illnesses come on suddenly.
This excuse also includes professionals who have kids. You might need to set up alternative child care in this situation before reporting to work.
Mass transit
Due to a mass transit delay, you might have to arrive at work late. Perhaps your train arrived late or the bus schedule changed. You can use it as a good justification for being late to work because this kind of issue is typically out of your control.
How to handle being late to work
It’s best to behave professionally when you must arrive late for work so that your employer, supervisor, and coworkers understand your commitment to the job. To handle being late for work professionally, take the following actions:
1. Be honest
It’s important to be honest in the workplace to maintain professionalism, and your manager will likely appreciate it if you give a good reason.
Other than the reasons mentioned above, you might be late because you woke up late or forgot something crucial at home that you need to go back and get. Tell them the truth about why you want to keep their trust by being forthright.
2. Be concise
Although being truthful is the best course of action, keep your justification for being tardy at work to a minimum. The only information required by your employer is the necessary information, such as the specific cause, the time you intend to arrive at work, and the actions you intend to take to make up for any inconvenience your tardiness may have caused. Your manager will value knowing when to anticipate you and how you intend to make up for missed tasks or meetings, regardless of what your schedule is for the day. By employing this technique, you can make sure that your employer can swiftly change the workplace to accommodate your brief absence and return to the tasks at hand.
3. Communicate early
Communicate as soon as you can. Text messages, instant messages, emails, and voicemails are all quick ways to communicate while traveling to work and provide an update on your anticipated arrival time.
Although not all circumstances will allow for it, your team and supervisor will likely appreciate it when you can. Supervisors generally appreciate notice when you’re going to be late. Tell your manager what time they can expect you if you have a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment that day and that you’ll be in a little later. Your manager might be able to change the schedule or make other arrangements with enough notice to maintain team productivity.
4. Cover your responsibilities
Set up a strategy to catch up on any work you may have to do as a result of missing some of your scheduled hours. If there are any time-sensitive tasks, you might want to ask other team members if they can handle them until you arrive. Let your team leader know what you’ve done and who will be assisting in your absence if you were able to make arrangements for any type of coverage or support.
You can also express how you will make amends and take further responsibility for your tardiness. Maybe you’ll work through lunch or finish a few more tasks at home after the workday is over. You might also want to reassure your boss that you are keeping up with all of your other obligations.
5. Apologize
When notifying your boss that you will be arriving late, take the time to apologize and state that this is an isolated incident. You might also want to express regret to any colleagues who might have been harmed by your tardiness. An easy apology and thank you for their willingness to assist can go a long way if they had to take on additional tasks or represent you in meetings.
25 best excuses for being late that sound reasonable
FAQ
What’s a good excuse for being late to school?
Clever justifications for why you had to go home for a change of clothes include, “I had my mind on my exams and totally forgot to change out of my pajamas!” and “I was halfway to school when somebody on a bike grabbed me, totally ripping the sleeve off my uniform.”
What is the best excuse?
- Car (or Other) Accident. …
- Death of a Loved One. …
- Personal Illness. …
- Child’s Illness. …
- Emergency. …
- Car Problems. …
- Medical Appointments. …
- Miscellaneous Absences.
What do you say when you’re late?
- “I’m sorry.” First, you must apologize for being late. …
- “Something has come up. ” Next, you must explain why you are late.
- “I’ll be there in 20 minutes.” …
- “Would it be possible to … ?” …
- “Thank you for waiting.”
How do I ask for coming late?
Hi [Name], just wanted to let you know that I’m running [minutes] late due to [reason]. If you need to reach them, please call or text them instead. I apologize for the inconvenience and assure you that I will keep you informed of my whereabouts. Or: I’m so sorry, but [reason] is making me late this morning.
