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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
roberthalf.com/accountemps
‘I’m sorry I’m late, but …’
CFOs have heard all of the excuses in the book

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
CFOs Frown on Tardiness
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Think showing up late to work – even if the job’s getting done – is OK?
Think again.
Only 1 in 10 CFOs said it doesn’t matter when employees arrive, as
long as they are getting their work done on time.
Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs
They should arrive on time so others can
rely on them during set hours
43%
It’s OK if they’re occasionally late, as
long as it’s not a pattern and people don’t
perceive them as slacking off
47%
It doesn’t matter when they arrive, as
long as they get their work done on time
10%

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
A Worker’s Perspective
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers
In a separate survey, workers were asked, “How often do you arrive
late to work?” Their responses:
Total Ages 18-34 Ages 35-54 Ages 55+
Every day 7% 12% 6% 1%
A few times a week 12% 17% 10% 7%
A few times a month 15% 19% 14% 8%
A few times a year 31% 29% 33% 30%
Never 34% 23% 36% 54%
Yes 43%
No 57%
Some workers admitted that their productivity has suffered because a
colleague was late to work:

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I drove to my old job out of habit.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I thought I was still on vacation.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I had nothing to wear.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I thought it was Saturday.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“My hair got caught in a fan.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I super-glued my eye thinking it was contact solution.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
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“Geese chased
me on my way to
the car.”
Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
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“My cat delivered
its litter of kittens.”
Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
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“Someone spilled their coffee all over me on the
way to work.”
Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I was stuck in an elevator with a kid that pushed the
buttons for all the floors.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“A truck full of fish flipped
over on the highway.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“My dog ate my car keys.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Creative Excuses
“I got locked in the gas station restroom and had to wait for
someone to get me out.”
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Source: Accountemps survey of more than 2,200 CFOs

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© 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the
world’s first and largest specialized staffing
service for temporary accounting, finance and
bookkeeping professionals.
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