How would you explain getting fired for being late?

My husband was only late 25% of the time he was accused of being late. All the tardies were for 1 or 2 minutes! How should he explain this to a potential employer? He has timecards from a time clock to prove it was only 1 or 2 minutes.

How would you explain getting fired for being late?extension

Late is late, and rules are rules. No potential employer wants to hear a sob story like that when in reality, since it was a regular problem, he could have simply left for work 5 minutes earlier and avoided the tardiness.

However, what's done is done, and I would recommend not even mentioning the fact that he was fired to potential future employers. Let them try to find out on their own, which they probably won't. If the company that fired him is large and has a dedicated human resource department, they will likely only verify dates of employment when contacted for a reference.

If the former employer is a small company, and they would be calling the secretary who he was in the office with every day, that could be another story, as they can be blabbers and relish that kind of stuff.

How would you explain getting fired for being late?movie theater opera theater

If your late... .your late. No explaination needed. Follow the rules... or get fired. There are no excuses for perpetually being 1 or 2 minutes late. He has Proof! he was a perpetually tardy and irresponsible.
I don't think he should have to explain that at all. Just call the last firing "a layoff" and leave it at that. Some employers may check his references and find out about the lateness issue, but surprisingly many employers don't check references. Next job, make sure he gets there on time though.
don't bring it up in the interview, but if you have to then thoroughly explain the situation
That's messed up. The boss should @ least cut him a break. I know his boss has his late days.
Have him tell the potential employer that his previous employer was extremely rigid, as far as the hours are concerned. Have him explain that he was eventually let go as a result of not being compatible with the scheduling. Most employers have "flex time" where you can make up the hours (or minutes) you miss - unless it is shift work and someone is counting on you to be precise.
good question
HE SHOULDVE LEFT EARLIER 1 OR 2 MINUTES DOESNT MATTER! THATS WHY HE LOST HIS JOB, THEY PAY HIM HES NOT DOINGTHEM A FAVOR BY WORKING THERE, ITLL SHOW IRRESPONSIBILITY TO FUTURE EMPLOYERS.........TIME TO CHANGE HIS BAD HABIT
Well if he has the time cards then he can show them those. At his next job may I suggest he be five minutes early so there is never a question. I am a manager and when employees come breezing in right under the wire it is very nerve racking. Managers need to know if their employees are going to be on the job and when people are late, even a few minutes, it is stressful.

Good luck to him
What do you mean "accused" of being late?

He WAS late.

Late is late...your husband broke the company work rules.

Also, warn your husband not to show those time cards to a prospective employer...he won't get hired with a history of showing up late for the job...whether it's one minute or one hour.

A dedicated, reliable employee doesn't just show up when he feels like it. Plus it takes another 5-10 minutes for the employee to get to his desk or workstation and even start to be productive.

Bosses, supervisors and managers, know this very well.
25% OF THE TIME IS A LOT. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE MORE THEN 1 OR 2 MINUTES TO HAVE GOTTEN FIRED. DID THEY GIVE HIM HIS TIME CARDS? THAT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A COMPANY TO GIVE THE TIME CARDS TO THE EX EMPLOYEE.
I would think that just once in a while would not get one fired. But 25% of how many times? Some people just can't get to work on time, and others just never are late, and if so call in or give a good explanation for it. A good worker don't get fired for being late just once in a while. And just what is he doing with all of those time cards? I have hired and fired a lot of people, and I can tell you that I never fired any one that did their work well and made an effort to be at work on time. There must be more to the story.
I'm sorry to tell you, but to some employers, it doesn't matter to them whether you're 1 minute late or 1 hour late. Because to them, it only means one thing, you're late. They will not take into consideration that your husband was efficient at work because of one little demerit. But when he applies for another job, he can ask his future employer, with humility, to at least see him perform his job for a day, and at the end of the day if the employer doesn't want to keep your husband, they would have not lost anything, but they finished one task for free. i know it sounds like a waste of time. but they will see how sincere your husband is.