[DanBlake]

This reminds me of Van Halen and their "no brown M&M's clause"

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232420

To sum it up, Van Halen would put in their contracts that they are to be served M&M's with no brown ones present. If they found that there was indeed brown ones, they would not play because they felt the gig was not paying attention to detail.

Seems to me that if you are applying for a job that basically is all about time (delivery in 30 mins) then it is a great litmus test to not let people who are late to the orientation have a job. These people obviously did not care enough for the job interview- It stands to reason they likely wont care to be extra fast once/if hired.

[kenjackson]

That story would be more of an analogy if Van Halen then checked if you also removed the red M&Ms too, since red is kind of close to brown.

I may be weird in this way, but if you want me somewhere at 6pm, tell me 6pm. If you want me there at 5:50pm, tell me 5:50pm. But if you want me there at 5:50pm, don't tell me 6pm.

[vcherubini]

They weren't late, though? If they wanted people to show up 5-10 minutes early, make the training at 5:50 or 5:55. Don't say 6 and really mean earlier.

[thesagan]

Exactly. "Early" is generally understood to mean before the "time in question" -- the time that serves as the frame of reference when an engagement will occur.

Asking participants to arrive early would, at least to me, strike as a caveat to those who might otherwise arrive late -- but not at the "time in question".

On time is on time, which is AT the stated time. Not before, not after.