Nearly half of Gen Z think being 10 minutes late still counts as ‘on time’
For many workers, showing up on time has always been one of the most basic expectations at work.
But for Gen Z, the definition of “on time” appears to be changing.
A recent discussion online has sparked debate after reports revealed that nearly half of Gen Z workers believe arriving between five to 10 minutes late is “as good” as being on time.
The conversation gained traction through a TikTok trend where employers filmed staff arriving at work while displaying their official start times on screen.
In one viral example, a worker with an 8am start time arrived at 8.22am.
While some younger employees see a few minutes’ delay as harmless, human resources experts say many employers still view punctuality very differently.
Employee relations expert Jim Moore from Hamilton Nash said the debate around lateness is one HR departments have dealt with for decades.
According to him, being “on time” does not mean walking through the office door exactly at the start hour.
Instead, employees should already be at their workstation and ready to begin work at their scheduled time.
He also pointed out that arriving 10 minutes late every day can eventually add up to almost 40 hours of lost work over a year.
The discussion has also highlighted clear generational differences in workplace expectations.
A 2024 workplace study found older generations were generally far less accepting of lateness compared to younger workers.
Many Gen Z employees entered the workforce during a period shaped by remote work, flexible schedules and changing office cultures following the pandemic.
Because of that, some younger employees question why arriving a few minutes late matters as long as their work gets done.
However, HR professionals warn that repeated lateness may affect more than just productivity.
A TikTok HR officer recently explained that consistent lateness can slowly influence how colleagues and managers perceive someone in the workplace.
“What feels like five minutes to you may slowly become part of your reputation to others,” she shared.
Experts say occasional lateness caused by traffic, childcare or emergencies is understandable.
The bigger concern begins when lateness becomes a repeated habit without communication or accountability.
According to HR professionals, persistent lateness can eventually lead to verbal warnings, written warnings and, in more serious cases, disciplinary action.
At the same time, some experts believe employers also need to reflect on workplace expectations.
If punctuality is genuinely important, companies should clearly explain why.
But if flexibility is possible and performance remains strong, some argue employers may need to focus less on strict clock-watching and more on actual output and trust.
