I need help with a situation regarding my boss and his behavior, see details...?

My boss is consistently late and then will leave early. A month doesn't go by when he doesn't call in sick at least twice. He always asks if we need help and then when we approach him to have him help he will turn around and ask why we can't handle it. My group and I don't know how to approach the situation. Should we first approach him with how we feel or go to his supervisor? If we do go to him, how do we bring it up so that it seems like we aren't attacking him or ganging up on him? What kind of implications do you think can come back to haunt us if we bring this up? HELP!!!

It makes a difference if you are friendly with him, and also if it is some new behavior. If you basically get along with the guy I think I would first approach him since you may still have to work under him even if he shapes up. Don't do it alone, have a witness - -and one you should be the senior person of your group. Let him know everyone in the group is concerned about this and give examples how his absence and lack of leadership is causing problems & that you don't want to be blamed for lack of performance. You could tell him you do think it is serious enough that the supervisor should know.

He may have some kind of serious family problems or some physical or mental illness like depression or a substance abuse problem that he is in denial about but maybe if he hears that it is really causing a problem that you all recognize, it will break through his denial - -he would then have to meet with his supervisor and perhaps come up with something that will work out or may have to take some time off to get help of some kind.
I do think you should talk to the supervisor too and I would hope he would do that, or as a group

If he is a jerk, especially if you think he is likely to become hostile or threaten anything about your own employment first put it all in writing and then 2 of you meet with the supervisor and take a copy of what you wrote, They will still probably have to give him written warnings before firing him, but you having talked to the supervisor should give you some protection if he tries to get you in trouble in retaliation.

Go to his supervisor its not for you to tell him unless he asked I could see this go relay wrong for you if you approach him your self it sounds like hes abusing his position see if threes a 1800 number so threes know direct involvement

There is not much - actually nothing
you can do to approach him to
make him change.
He would have behalves differently
if he was that kind of person you wished.
He is the boss,
any approach would turn around to haunt
against whomever brought it up.
He does sound like a tricky person.
To a bad *** and lack of self-respect person
like you boss,
the only way is fighting back his way.
Never the less, it also depends whether
he is the real boss boss or a supervisor boss.
If he is the boss boss,
you better bare with it, or
you may consider quit your job.
If he is a supervisor boss,
go ahead with an eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth.
Find you ways to blame on his late or
his absences for whatever went wrong
as much as possible,
so the real boss finally will get to
know his problems.
Then either he will change, or
he will leave.

Good luck!.