Does this kid get paid for the full time, or is he docked for the tardiness?
15 minutes a day doesn't sound like so much, but with simple math it translates to more than 1-1/2 weeks a year.
The most proficient worker around is not worth a nickel if he's not on the jobsite.
This "I guess I'm not a morning person" crap is just that...crap. Tardiness only shows that this person figures his time is more valuable than the time of all the others combined. Allowing it only reinforces that pattern of thinking.
Trumpy's got it right. It's a case of bad priorities. (Imagine if you called a Fire Dept full of guys that couldn't get out of bed.)
You might try telling the rest of the crew that they can't start until everyone is at work (including the "problem child").
Peer pressure should make short work of it.
