Dear Anil,
Rigidity makes employees arrogant and work shirkers. Would you like your employees attend and leave office in time but without any productivity? I think you won't.
That does not mean I am supporter of absenteeism. But sure, some relaxation at certain times to just one or two employees should not be overruled. My personal experience says, you can make them work even 9 to 10 hours a day with good results and that too without their asking for any remuneration for extra hours they devote. You first need to verify the cause of their late coming. There may be several reasons, not only personal, but also transportation or others. Employees usually come forward with lame excuses for delay if you are not friendly with them and deal just like a boss. If you try to become their friendly manager, they won't hesitate to speak their mind with truth before you you.
During my earlier service, the management knew me as the best administrator and revenue earner, while employees knew me as their real friend and sympathizer, but only if they were truthful with me. Why I was the best administrator, that was because my subordinates behaved like quite a tamed fellows. On the other hand, why I was considered as the best revenue earner, that was because I enjoyed complete sincerity of my subordinates and they used to leave no stone unturned to safeguard the revenue of the organization. Besides, I was considered as the least spendthrift. Further, why I was considered as employee-friendly and sympathizer, because the employees knew that for genuine and truthful reasons, I would not compel for their punctuality and take care of their needs, facilities and amenities, without asking. They also knew that I would deal the real culprits with firm hands.
My subordinates used to trust me so much that even about their private and part time jobs I was made aware of by them. This mutual trust benefited me with their sincerity and loyalty. If they were late to arrive in office or had to leave early I was made fully aware of their inability to attend in time or would want to leave early at some times due to their compelling grounds. Further, work on their part never suffered, as they used to compensate office work very sincerely at some other time without asking. Even when I asked to sit late in office due to some urgency they would never refuse or ask for any compensation. Of course, at my own discretion when I found their extra work to be compensated by extra remuneration, I myself, asked them to prefer their claims for overtime.
Another advantage I got from the mutual trust was that when I was absent on visit to some other office or due to my leave, my subordinates, with all their sincerity, never tried to be absent from office. During office hours I used to be their boss, but when even a peon visited my house, I treated him like my guest.
So, better try these formulas and later share your practical experience with others also.
PS Dhingra
Vigilance & Transformation Management Consultant
Dhingra Group of management & Educational Consultants
New Delhi