Being late to work can happen to anyone. Traffic, public transport problems, or personal issues might cause delays that create stress and affect workplace relationships. A well-written apology email helps maintain professional standing and shows respect for coworkers’ time.
The right tone makes the difference between an email that strengthens workplace relationships and one that damages them. These samples fit many situations and writing styles to help create the perfect apology for any situation.
Sample Apology Emails for Lateness to Work
These 20 professionally written apology emails serve as guides to inform your supervisor about arriving late to work.
1. Simple Traffic Delay
Subject: Running Late Due to Heavy Traffic
Dear Mr. Thompson,
The traffic on Highway 101 is at a standstill this morning due to an accident. My usual 30-minute commute looks like it will take about an hour today. Based on current conditions, I expect to arrive at the office by 9:45 AM.
I have my laptop with me and am already responding to urgent emails from my phone. Please let me know if you need me to prioritize any specific tasks before I arrive.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
Sarah Chen
2. Public Transportation Issues
Subject: Delayed Due to Train Service Disruption
Dear Lisa,
The subway service on the Blue Line is experiencing technical problems this morning. Several trains have been canceled, causing significant delays. My estimated arrival time at the office will be 10:15 AM.
I have already notified the team about the delay and rescheduled my 9:30 AM client call to 11:00 AM. I will dial into our team meeting at 10:00 AM from my phone during my commute.
I apologize for any disruption this may cause to our morning workflow.
Kind regards,
Michael Rodriguez
3. Personal Emergency
Subject: Late Arrival – Family Emergency
Dear Ms. Wilson,
My son woke up with a high fever this morning. I needed to wait for my partner to return from their night shift to care for him. I should arrive at the office by 10:30 AM.
I have already informed my project team and arranged for Jake to present the morning status update in my place. All other deliverables for today remain on track.
Thank you for your flexibility during this family situation.
Regards,
David Patterson
4. Weather-Related Delay
Subject: Late Start Due to Severe Weather
Dear Robert,
The heavy snowfall has caused treacherous road conditions this morning. For safety reasons, I am waiting for the snow plows to clear the main roads. I anticipate arriving at the office around 10:00 AM.
I will join the budget review meeting virtually at 9:00 AM and have already shared the updated spreadsheets with the finance team.
I appreciate your understanding of this weather-related delay.
Best,
Amanda Lewis
5. Car Problems
Subject: Running Late – Unexpected Car Trouble
Dear Mrs. Johnson,
My car would not start this morning due to a dead battery. AAA is on their way to help, but their estimated arrival time is 45 minutes. I expect to reach the office by 10:45 AM.
I have contacted Tom to cover my front desk duties until I arrive. All appointment schedules have been updated, and clients have been notified of slight delays.
Thank you for your patience with this situation.
Sincerely,
James Wright
6. Medical Appointment Overrun
Subject: Delayed Arrival – Medical Appointment
Dear Dr. Martinez,
My morning medical appointment is running longer than expected due to unexpected lab work. The doctor estimates another 30 minutes to complete all necessary tests. I should be at the office by 11:00 AM.
I have already completed the monthly reports and emailed them to the department heads. Rachel will stand in for me during the team training session.
I apologize for this delay and appreciate your understanding.
Best regards,
Emily Turner
7. Home Emergency
Subject: Late Arrival – Plumbing Emergency
Dear Tim,
A pipe burst in my kitchen this morning, requiring immediate attention from emergency plumbers. They are currently working on repairs. I estimate arriving at the office by 11:30 AM.
I have my laptop and phone with me and am fully operational from home while supervising the repairs. The client presentation scheduled for 2:00 PM will proceed as planned.
Thank you for understanding this unexpected situation.
Regards,
Peter Chang
8. Childcare Issues
Subject: Late Start – Childcare Provider Emergency
Dear Ms. Anderson,
My regular childcare provider called in sick this morning. I needed additional time to arrange backup care for my daughter. I expect to arrive at the office by 10:15 AM.
I have already started working remotely and completed the priority tasks for this morning. The team has been briefed on their assignments for today.
I appreciate your understanding of this family situation.
Best wishes,
Rebecca Foster
9. Road Construction Delay
Subject: Arrival Delay Due to Road Construction
Dear Mr. Phillips,
Unexpected road construction on Main Street has caused significant traffic delays this morning. Based on current conditions, my estimated arrival time is 9:30 AM.
I am using my commute time productively to handle emails and make necessary phone calls. The morning status report has been sent to all stakeholders.
Thank you for your understanding of this delay.
Kind regards,
Daniel Kim
10. Power Outage
Subject: Running Late – Power Outage Affected Alarm
Dear Janet,
A power outage in my neighborhood reset my alarm system overnight. I woke up late as a result and am now running behind schedule. I expect to arrive by 9:45 AM.
I have already logged in remotely to start my daily tasks and informed my team about the situation. All critical morning deliverables will be completed on time.
I apologize for this unexpected delay.
Best,
Robert Chen
11. Multiple Transport Issues
Subject: Late Arrival – Combined Transport Problems
Dear Ms. Bennett,
Both my regular bus route and backup route are experiencing severe delays due to a traffic accident and road repairs. I am seeking alternative transportation but expect to arrive at the office around 10:30 AM.
I have my laptop with me and am working from a cafe near the bus stop. The quarterly report draft will be ready for review as scheduled.
Thank you for your patience with this situation.
Regards,
Maria Santos
12. School Emergency
Subject: Delayed Start – School Emergency
Dear Mr. Davidson,
My daughter’s school called about an urgent matter requiring my immediate attention this morning. I need to attend a brief meeting with her teacher. I should arrive at the office by 10:00 AM.
I have rescheduled my morning client calls and briefed the team on their priorities for the day. All urgent matters are being handled.
I appreciate your understanding of this parental responsibility.
Best regards,
Sarah Thompson
13. Building Access Issues
Subject: Late – Building Access Problem
Dear Director Williams,
The parking garage card reader system is malfunctioning this morning, causing long delays at entry. Maintenance is working on the issue. I expect to reach my desk by 9:30 AM.
I am responding to urgent emails from my phone while waiting and have informed my team about the situation. The morning status meeting will proceed as scheduled via conference call.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Thomas Lee
14. Multiple Appointments
Subject: Delayed Arrival – Back-to-Back Appointments
Dear Ms. Reynolds,
My morning dental appointment has run longer than expected, which will affect my arrival time. The procedure requires additional time to complete safely. I anticipate reaching the office by 11:15 AM.
I have already processed the urgent client requests remotely and updated the project timeline. My afternoon meetings remain unchanged.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Best wishes,
Karen Martinez
15. Pet Emergency
Subject: Late Start – Veterinary Emergency
Dear Mr. Harrison,
My dog required emergency veterinary care this morning. The vet is currently treating him, and I need to wait for the initial assessment. I expect to arrive at the office by 10:45 AM.
I have my laptop with me and am working from the vet’s office. The team has been notified, and all morning deliverables are being handled as planned.
Thank you for your understanding during this pet emergency.
Regards,
Jennifer Wong
16. Technology Issues
Subject: Running Late – Home Internet Problems
Dear Paula,
Technical issues with my home internet prevented me from completing some essential morning work tasks at home. I needed extra time to resolve these issues before leaving. I should arrive by 9:45 AM.
All critical morning emails have now been sent, and I have updated the team on project statuses. The delay will not affect any deadlines.
I apologize for this technical inconvenience.
Best,
Mark Stevens
17. Security System Problem
Subject: Late Arrival – Home Security Issue
Dear Mr. Clarke,
My home security system malfunctioned this morning, requiring immediate attention from the security company. I need to wait for their technician to arrive and secure the house. I expect to reach the office by 10:30 AM.
I am working remotely while waiting and have completed the morning report. All team members have received their daily assignments.
Thank you for your patience with this situation.
Kind regards,
Lisa Parker
18. Bank Emergency
Subject: Delayed Start – Banking Emergency
Dear Ms. Thompson,
My bank alerted me to suspicious activity on my account this morning, requiring immediate attention at my local branch. I need to verify some transactions in person. I anticipate arriving at the office by 10:15 AM.
I have my phone and laptop with me to handle any urgent matters. The team has been briefed on morning priorities.
I appreciate your understanding of this financial security matter.
Best regards,
Richard Taylor
19. Delivery Issue
Subject: Late – Important Package Delivery
Dear Mr. Matthews,
A critical package requiring my signature is scheduled for delivery this morning. The courier has provided a narrow time window that I must accommodate. I expect to arrive at the office by 10:00 AM.
I am fully connected and working from home while waiting. The morning client presentations have been distributed to all stakeholders.
Thank you for your understanding of this situation.
Regards,
Michelle Castro
20. Phone Service Problems
Subject: Running Late – Phone Service Issues
Dear Ms. Edwards,
My phone service was disrupted overnight, affecting my morning alarm and schedule. The service provider is working to restore the connection. I should arrive at the office by 9:45 AM.
I have accessed my work email through my laptop and addressed all urgent morning matters. Team coordination remains unaffected.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Best wishes,
Christopher Hughes
Final Thoughts
An effective apology email balances honesty, professionalism, and responsibility. Each sample shows essential parts of a good apology email with a clear explanation, specific arrival time, and proactive solutions for pending work. These elements help maintain professional relationships and show commitment to workplace responsibilities.
These samples can guide you, allowing adjustments to match specific situations while keeping the main parts intact. A carefully written apology email can change a stressful situation into a chance to show professionalism and consideration for others.