5 Ways to Manage Staff Leaving Work Early Without Permission
Every so often, you’ll snap out of your work focus to check up on your employees. 👀
Suddenly, you notice that half of your team has gone AWOL.
People leave work for various reasons, but why skip asking you first?
To prevent unauthorized early departures and maintain respect and trust in the workplace, follow these steps. 📌
*This article is the abridged, adapted version of the blog post originally published on the Clockify blog:
https://clockify.me/blog/workforce-management/leaving-work-early-without-permission/
#1: Identify the effects of unapproved departures
Upon noticing an alarming rate of unreported absences, evaluate how it impacts your business. 🔎
First, consider the operational consequences.
Early leavers are less likely to deliver timely, quality work — they steal company time and reduce corporate profits.
Entrepreneur Dmytro Tymoshenko warns that early clock-outs “might cause other employees to behave similarly.” ☝️
Second, identify the legal consequences.
US labor laws treat repeated absences without permission as misconduct unless employees provide a valid reason. When addressing misconduct, business owners can take disciplinary measures.
However, experts on employee discipline advise documenting these disciplinary actions to protect your business from potential complaints. 📑
To ensure legal compliance, attorney Mark Hirsch advises checking “employment contracts, labor laws, and the impact on output.”
#2: Understand why employees leave early without asking
Schedule one-on-one meetings with employees to learn why they take off early without your permission. 👥
Successful businesses take great care in maintaining effective communication with employees. After all, frequent and meaningful discussions can inspire purpose and motivation.
In conversation with early leavers, business owner Jonathan Goldberg suggests that “personal challenges may be at play, and finding out helps us offer appropriate support while maintaining productivity.” ⛑️
Compassion is key to solving the issue, as HR manager Tsvetelina Nasteva explains. She says that “by approaching these conversations with empathy, I've often been able to find mutually beneficial solutions.” 🤝
#3: Set clear rules to prevent early departures
Employees are more likely to respect attendance rules when you clearly define the dos and don’ts. 📝
First, outline your expectations about attendance — a straightforward attendance policy should:
Explain how to request permission to leave work,
List the consequences of unreported absences, and
Discourage unapproved departures to maintain productivity.
To avoid misunderstandings, business owner Parker Warren recommends “putting policies, which concern working hours, breaks, and time off, in clear terms.” 💡
Second, stress the consequences of unapproved absences.
Remind workers of the various types of disciplinary action for leaving early, from written warnings to potential dismissal.
Entrepreneur Marin Cristian-Ovidiu notes that explaining the consequences helps employees understand “how their actions affect the entire operation” and promotes accountability.
Business leader Kraig Kleeman stresses consistency in applying rules, adding that you shouldn’t “make exceptions unless you have a legitimate reason.” ⚠️
#4: Convince employees to stay with incentives
Offering meaningful incentives boosts motivation and work performance — encouraging employees to stay. 🤩
Recent stats reveal that companies with motivated employees bring 23% more profits than those with disengaged teams.
On the role of motivation in getting staff to keep working, entrepreneur Kraig Kleeman says, “If the workplace is a positive and motivating environment, your team will be less tempted to leave early.” ✅
He highlights incentives like “flexible hours or days of telecommuting” for meeting goals and strongly recommends celebrating employee achievements.
So, showing appreciation and offering benefits will encourage your team to work efficiently and honor their schedules. 💪
#5: Master efficient employee tracking with Clockify
Tracking employee productivity has become harder with more people choosing to work remotely. 😓
While some remote workers may misuse their time, automation ensures you stay informed.
Clockify, for example, allows you to confidently monitor both on-site and remote work performance while complying with labor laws. 👌
In particular, our easy-to-use app shows you where and how your employees spend their work time with features like:
GPS tracking — see workers’ location on the map,
Scheduling — set clear work schedules for each employee, and
Reminders — send notifications to remind idle employees to track time.
Our cost-effective time tracker helps improve employees’ attitudes toward work. For instance, GPS data lets you address any unapproved absences. 🗺️
With time-tracking, Clockify promotes accountability and discourages sneaky clock-outs, boosting team productivity.