Question

You are the manager of a small computer programming firm with only seven employees. Rupert Johnson, a programmer who has worked for the company for five years, has developed the habit of coming in to work anywhere from ten to thirty minutes late most days. The other employees have come to you to complain about Rupert’s constant tardiness, saying that it is unfair that they have to take up his slack in the morning routine. You have promised to call Rupert in and talk to him about the problem.

When you call Rupert into your office to talk to him, he opens up to you and explains that about a month ago his ex-wife unexpectedly gave him full custody of his seven-year-old son. She literally left the boy on his doorstep one Saturday and disappeared. Rupert admits that he has been struggling to get into a good routine with his son. The child’s school will not let students arrive before 7:30 am and even if he gets the boy to school at that time, the morning commute and traffic will always make him a few minutes late.