Apprentice late again

[Headless chicken]

so we've got an apprentice who started with us at the tail end of last month so been here for about a month now. In that time he's been late a lot. Most day in fact we don't See him until 5:40/5:45. He knows he's to be here by 5:30 but it's always that little bit late. A couple times he has been here really late.

Last time I had a chat with him about why he was so late and thought we got somewhere. Again today he was really late 6:25 I think he arrived. But I needed him here so I had to ring dad in the end to scrape for me.

How do we deal with this? We've got him for a year really and he is handy and keen but no good if he can't arrive on time. He's doing about 6-8 hours a day with minimum of 30 min breakfast and 2 hours lunch. Mostly he gets 3-4 hours off in the middle of the day to get some kip or relax.
He's with us Monday- Thursday and college on a Friday so joy clocking huge hours I don't think. Are we expecting too much?

I was going to give him a written performance review so we sit down and see how he can improve and then if we do have to let him go it's all documented.

I'm really laid back and appreciate things go wrong but being 15 mins late everyday just really grinds on me

Edit - can this thread please not turn into an argument that he deserves more money etc. He's paid what he needs to be paid and we will look after him and his training in order for him to improve along his way.

 

[vantage]

Tell him you are starting earlier at 5,15 ,then he will be on time!

 

[Rossymons]

Consistently late is taking the mick a bit.

Part of the job training isn't about the job at all. Its about punctuality, communication and a bit courtesy.

If he's being a pain in the ass then don't keep him.

But i'm guessing you've already found out why he's late? Does he drive himself or rely on a lift in? How far away does he live - 5 minutes or half hour?

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

Knock his late time off his dinner, send him out to do jobs on his own while everyone else is still having dinner.

 

[linga]

I hate people being late (without good reason) and especially so when I get woken up to do their job. I get grumpy then or maybe as headless probably thinks even grumpier.
The apprentice has a tendency to be a bit dopey at the best of times but he is going to have to buck his ideas up pretty sharpish.
It pee'd me off a bit that when he did arrive,getting the radio going in the tractor was the first thing he felt he had to do..
I am , at this moment, musing on what horrible job he is going to have to do to atone.

 

[Headless chicken]

Consistently late is taking the mick a bit.

Part of the job training isn't about the job at all. Its about punctuality, communication and a bit courtesy.

If he's being a pain in the ass then don't keep him.

But i'm guessing you've already found out why he's late? Does he drive himself or rely on a lift in? How far away does he live - 5 minutes or half hour?

Well he's late because he doesn't get out of bed on time. Guess he just sleeps through his alarms. He's got a moped and he's probably about 10-15 minutes away. I could accept him being a bit late during bad weather but it's all the time.

I agree it's about him learning to be punctual and I'm keen not to just sack him he's here to learn and learn he shall but he needs to help himself.

Knock his late time off his dinner, send him out to do jobs on his own while everyone else is still having dinner.

There's not really that much on to be sending him back out for jobs like that but doesn't that just isolate him and make him more tierd?

I worked for someone before that if you missed a cow in the parlour for the vet you were sent out to the field to find her in a group of 600. You didn't miss her twice!

 

[linga]

Well he's late because he doesn't get out of bed on time. Guess he just sleeps through his alarms. He's got a moped and he's probably about 10-15 minutes away. I could accept him being a bit late during bad weather but it's all the time.

I agree it's about him learning to be punctual and I'm keen not to just sack him he's here to learn and learn he shall but he needs to help himself.



There's not really that much on to be sending him back out for jobs like that but doesn't that just isolate him and make him more tierd?

I worked for someone before that if you missed a cow in the parlour for the vet you were sent out to the field to find her in a group of 600. You didn't miss her twice!

Is he tired or is he just dopey ?
Think he needs to decide for himself firstly if he wants to work on a farm and secondly if he capable. Its up to him but he needs to decide soon.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Seek proper advice before doing anything drastic as sacking an apprentice can be harder than a regular staff member.

 

[Moors Farmer]

It's early days, H c. I'm presuming he's a very young apprentice? Ie 16 years old? If he is, then I feel your pain. At the moment he's come from a world of almost total dependency on parenting and schooling, with very little, if any, responsibility for anything other than his own behaviour.
It's a mahoosive culture change for them, and he'll need a period of re-education. It takes time - more than 6 weeks.
Taking the issue up with his college tutor may help. I'm not sure if punishment is the right approach. It's a fairly steep learning curve for you, your Dad, and the yoof!

I'm into a second year of apprenticeship with a local lad (he came to me looking for an apprenticeship placement as a 15year old) and has evolved into a member of staff who is trusted to milk the cows solo, to the appropriate standard. He's a great stockman too.

I'd suggest giving it a little more time. And patience.

 

[Bald Rick]

Our apprentice is young, dumb & full of c** so you have to make some allowances. It's the excuses I like best:

"Soz I'm late, my sister was on the toilet"

"Couldnt find my car keys, Found them in the ignition"

Going to write a book: "It shouldnt happen to a stressed dairy farmer"

 

[milkloss]

Did you source him through a college? Does he gets government top ups/income support due to being in full time education? These things can be used to apply pressure as well as his parents if they are interested at all.

 

[early riser]

If he's half interested in dairying he could well be reading this thread right now

 

[Moors Farmer]

Our apprentice is young, dumb & full of c** so you have to make some allowances. It's the excuses I like best:

"Soz I'm late, my sister was on the toilet"

"Couldnt find my car keys, Found them in the ignition"

Going to write a book: "It shouldnt happen to a stressed dairy farmer"

I feel your pain, too. It does gradually improve, though.








Eventually.

 

[WillM]

Probably time for a one month review. . Have a proper sit down with him and explain your expectations and if he can't make them, then he's wasting both his time and yours. The process should contain positives and negatives. Don't destroy his confidence but explain how important his role is to the business.
If he doesn't improve after that it's time to find another one.

 

[Boysground]

@WillM has said the right thing. Work with him and get him to understand how it effects your whole team when 1 member of staff is late.

A friend of mines son was working as a trainee estate agent in London. He has just been sacked for being late twice only a few minutes, both times because the tube was stationary. There is certainly no consideration for employees out there.

Bg

 

[Cows 'n grass]

My tractor driver / GFW who started here as an apprentice 8 years ago just doesn't do mornings. Four times a year he will start at 8 for TB testing but otherwise he starts at 9:30.

Sometimes it a bit of a pain but it doesn't make much difference to me, I used to try and get him there earlier but he was just always late. He's perfectly happy to work until the early hours of the morning when it's needed but never early.

I realize this doesn't help you @Headless chicken but maybe he's just not cut out for work on a dairy farm.

 

[JMTHORNLEY]

Well he's late because he doesn't get out of bed on time. Guess he just sleeps through his alarms. He's got a moped and he's probably about 10-15 minutes away. I could accept him being a bit late during bad weather but it's all the time.

I agree it's about him learning to be punctual and I'm keen not to just sack him he's here to learn and learn he shall but he needs to help himself.



There's not really that much on to be sending him back out for jobs like that but doesn't that just isolate him and make him more tierd?

I worked for someone before that if you missed a cow in the parlour for the vet you were sent out to the field to find her in a group of 600. You didn't miss her twice!

I'll tell you something for free, if the lad can't see he's on a good screw with yourself, keen to help him out, understanding and willing to teach him the poor bugger never will learn. I would have given my right bollock for someone like you to feed of and learn from at such a young age, having to muddle through with some of the grumpy ole gits and half arsed employers I had in my young days it's a wonder I am still doing what I love.

All things aside showing up on time is the easiest part of a job and should be the one thing in the day he gets right..end of!

 

[Still Farming]

Alan Sugar won't like it ?

 

[Devon lad]

I won’t have apprentices any more. I don’t think they really know what they want to do. I have Harper Adams placement students now, they are 19-20. A lot of growing up happens between 16-20. I cant fault them. Time keeping=laziness and I don’t really have a place for that in my business, 2nd to dishonesty. It takes a long time to get a good employee but once you’ve got one there like gold. I don’t think enough work is put into recruitment to an unattractive industry for young people. Personality profiles can play a big role I think.

 

[thewalrus]

IF he's young give him time he maybe didn't know that 5:30 am existed before he started with you!

If is overall attitude is good stick with him if attitude is bad I'd be trying to push him out