So my fiancée's work has implemented what has to be the stupidest attendance policy I've ever heard of. If you come in an more than an hour later or leave more than an hour earlier than your scheduled start/end time for any reason (even if it were something planned like a doctors appointment) you get a "point" in your file. 6 points and you're fired. The points don't go away either over time. Also, you can only "adjust" your schedule once per pay period (days off count in this) and you can't stay late to make up any sort of time during the week. Doesn't that make you want to work for them?
My mom's work is fairly similar. 7 points and you get written up, 3 write ups and your fired. But the points do reset every quarter and I think you can reset write-ups as well. Planned stuff like vacations and appointments don't get you a point as long as you request them far enough in advance. So it's far less stringent. I really like it, I wish I could implement something here with my team but HR says I can't.
Your faincee's system sounds pretty barbaric and I assume it will transform over time. Otherwise they'll end up firing everybody that works there.
I do like that can't stay lake to make up work rule. Allowing stuff like that encourages employees to not be there the hours you actually want them there. I don't allow employees to make up time unless we are super short handed, which we rarely are.