How to Handle an Employee Who Is Always Leaving Early

An employee is consistently clocking out or leaving before the end of their scheduled shift.  Whether they are walking out 15 minutes early every day or leaving an hour before close multiple times a week, it is creating an attendance issue that you need to address.  Here is how.

First: Check Whether Early Departures Are Authorized

Before treating this as a violation, confirm whether any of the early departures were approved, formally or informally.  If a previous manager told the employee it was fine to leave early when things are slow, or if you yourself have given permission in the past, the employee may not understand that the standard has changed.  Clarify the expectation before disciplining for violation of it.

Check for Protected Leave Situations

Early departures that are related to a medical condition, a disability, childcare needs tied to a pregnancy-related condition, or other protected circumstances may trigger accommodation obligations.  If the employee has communicated any medical or protected reason for the early departures, treat this as a potential accommodation situation before proceeding with discipline.

Address It Directly and Promptly

Do not let this pattern go on for weeks before saying something.  The longer you wait, the more the employee reasonably concludes that early departure is acceptable.  Address it after the first or second instance.

'I want to talk about your schedule.  Your shift ends at [time] and I have noticed you have been leaving at [earlier time] on [specific dates].  Our expectation is that you work your full scheduled shift.  Is there something going on I should know about?'

Give the employee the opportunity to explain before you assign consequences.  There may be a legitimate situation like transportation, childcare, or a medical need that you were not aware of.

Document and Apply the Policy

If there is no protected or authorized reason for the early departures, document the conversation and apply your attendance policy.  If your policy defines early departure as an attendance violation, address it through your progressive discipline process the same way you would any other attendance issue.

Wage and Hour Note for Hourly Employees

For hourly employees, unauthorized early departure means they are not working the hours they are scheduled for, which directly affects their pay.  Ensure your timekeeping records accurately reflect actual hours worked.  You cannot dock pay for time actually worked, but you also do not pay for hours not worked.  Accurate timekeeping is both a legal requirement and a documentation tool for attendance issues.

A written attendance policy that defines scheduled hours expectations, authorized departure procedures, and the thresholds that trigger disciplinary action is your foundation for addressing this situation correctly.

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