Is It Fair to Expect Punctuality and Continuous Work from Contract Engineers? Seeking Advice

Dear Seniors,

We have a civil site engineer on a contract employment basis for a period of 8 months for our new factory site. The site engineer, even after many reminders and discussions, is not reporting to the site on time. Additionally, we need him to work continuously on all working days—except for one day off and other declared national/festival holidays every month.

Expectations for On-Time Reporting and Continuous Work

Is it fair or justified to expect on-time reporting and continuous work from a civil site engineer from both practical and legal standpoints in the current industrial scenario? If it's acceptable, what actions can be taken to improve timely reporting?

Awaiting your advice.

In the current industrial scenario, it is reasonable to expect on-time reporting and continuous work from a civil site engineer, considering the nature of the role and the operational requirements. To address the issue of tardiness and ensure adherence to work schedules, the following steps can be taken:

1. Clear Communication: Clearly communicate the expected work hours and reporting times to the site engineer, emphasizing the importance of punctuality in meeting project deadlines and maintaining operational efficiency.

2. Performance Monitoring: Implement a system to monitor the engineer's daily attendance and work hours to track adherence to the schedule. This can help identify patterns of tardiness and address them promptly.

3. Feedback and Counseling: Conduct regular feedback sessions with the engineer to discuss the importance of punctuality and address any underlying issues that may be causing the delays. Offer guidance and support to help improve time management skills.

4. Incentivize Timeliness: Consider introducing incentives or recognition programs for punctuality and consistent on-time reporting to motivate the engineer to adhere to the schedule.

5. Progressive Discipline: If the issue persists despite interventions, follow the progressive discipline policy outlined in the employment contract. This may involve issuing warnings and outlining consequences for continued non-compliance.

By implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of accountability and punctuality, employers can improve the timely reporting of civil site engineers and enhance overall productivity on site.