75 Minutes

I was examining my calendars earlier this week and appreciating that we schedule a lot of things in life: work meetings, dinner reservations, doctor appointments, dental cleanings, oil and tire changes, and on and on. In fact, my work calendar is actually an accumulation of no fewer than three separate calendars to keep an eye on everything that is happening, may happen, will happen, or has happened. Then, to compound the issue, I need to compare my work calendar(s) against my personal calendar to make sure I don’t end up double booked. No one is happy when the weekly project update happens while you are getting your most recent cavity filled, after all. Least of all me.

Now, if you're not going to make your scheduled appointment or are running late, common etiquette would dictate you notify the waiting party that you are running late or won't be able to make it. I’m confident everyone reading this posting has intersected with places that require advance notice to reschedule or risk some kind of cancellation fee. While occasionally aggravating, sure, it is understandable a professional workplace isn’t going to hold your spot indefinitely: others are coming in behind, and the goal isn’t to also make them wait.

Recently, a contractor was scheduled to come to the office to complete his hiring paperwork and present his I9 documentation for all that legal-to-work-in-the-US jazz. See a dozen prior posts about what that means, so let's just move on.

He was scheduled for 3pm.

Our in-office hours for that particular day ended at 4pm.

An appointment scheduled at 3pm would give him plenty of time to get everything accomplished that needed accomplishing well before 4pm. I picked up a call from the contractor at 4:15pm.

Late Guy (LG): I'm scheduled to come to the office for an appointment to complete my paperwork and everything, but there's nobody here.

Me: From what I can see, you were scheduled to come in at 3pm.

LG: Why isn't anyone here so I can complete my hiring stuff?

Me: Probably because our in-office hours end at 4pm as posted in the lobby.

LG: I spent a long time getting here, and now you're telling me you won't let me into the office?!

Me: In-office hours ended at 4pm. It is now 4:15pm.

LG: So my trip was pointless? What'm I supposed to do now?

Me: I suggest you go home and try again on Monday.

LG: What??!! You can't--

Me: Sir, you are 75 minutes late for your scheduled appointment. If you had arrived on time, you would've had plenty of time to complete everything needed before in-office hours ended. Your anger is a bit misplaced at this point because you are the one that missed your appointment.

LG: Well that's stupid!

Me: So is being 75 minutes late to an appointment and getting mad that we didn't stay late just for you. Now, would you like to reschedule for Monday?

Some people...

Newsflash: The world doesn't revolve around you. You should've been there. You have no right to be salty that we turned you away because you were extravagantly late. Suck it up, buttercup, and be on time next time.