[header] How to apologize for being late to work [title] Gauge how late you're going to be. [step] Depending on your job, a few minutes may not be that big of a deal. However, if it is going to be longer, you probably need to call or apologize when you get there. 
[title] Decide how important your punctuality is. [step] For instance, if you have a big meeting, it may be more important for you to be on time.