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Post by KelleeM on Aug 21, 2014 20:42:35 GMT
8-26 update:
So, on Friday I told Rebecca that there was a problem with the parts she inspected and that the engineer was really ticked off about it. I didn't say much else except to tell her the specific issue with the parts. She didn't say anything, which I expected, she didn't need to give me an answer or explanation.
Yesterday our supervisor returned. She told me first thing that the engineer had called her at home on Thursday to tell her about the problem and let off steam...he was really angry (he got caught in a very uncomfortable situation with the customer). She told me what her plan was to deal with the situation.
As much as I don't want to see anyone lose their job, especially someone I like and care about, I think the "solution" is absolutely ridiculous and isn't going to solve anything. It's not my place to say or do anything except follow the instructions I'm given which I will always do.
Thanks for the opinions and advice in my original post!
I'm in a really uncomfortable situation at work. I'll give you the shortest version possible.
I'm a group leader. Five years ago Rebecca was hired and in spite of our 22 year age difference we became friends. We work in an industry where it's really important that we do our jobs well. Rebecca has consistently made mistakes over the years and has been spoken to by our supervisor many times. The supervisor is on vacation this week. Rebecca made a big mistake...a quality engineer caught it and we ended up being written up by our customer and there will definitely be repercussions. The engineer told me that if our supervisor had back up from her boss and HR Rebecca would have been terminated long ago. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Rebecca left early today because she wasn't feeling well and doesn't know what happened. I don't feel that I should say anything. The engineer told me that "maybe I should talk to her."
What would you do?
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Post by Linda on Aug 21, 2014 20:55:09 GMT
I think as a group leader, you have to separated your friendship from your job. If you weren't friends with Rebecca - would you see it as your job to speak to her (on the next work day) or would it be someone else's responsibility (the supervisor or the engineer)?
I'm sorry you're in an awkward spot.
On an aside - I think managers/supervisors, in general, do employees a disservice when they don't do a good job of documenting issues AND clearly relaying the issue, the consequence and what needs to be done to fix it (and the consequence of not fixing it ie termination) to the employees. I'm not saying this happened to Rebecca but the "has been spoken to many times" makes it sound like someone is saying "you made a mistake, make sure not to make mistakes" but not giving enough guidance on fixing the problem.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 21, 2014 20:56:04 GMT
I would let your supervisor handle it and I would not say anything to her about it.
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 21, 2014 20:59:53 GMT
If the Supervisor is away and you are filling in, I would go to HR for guidance. Good luck.
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Post by annabella on Aug 21, 2014 21:02:09 GMT
Honestly there's nothing you can do. You can't warn her she is about to be fired because you don't know that and even if you did you would not be allowed to tell her. Any hint would just make her paranoid and unhappy at work. I would just sit her down and tell her she needs to find a new method to pay attention to detail better.
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 21, 2014 21:04:03 GMT
Does being a group leader come with management responsibilities? If you're covering for the supervisor while she is on vacation, then I think you should say something. If being a group leader doesn't include handling the supevisor's responsibilities when the person is out, then I think I would stay out of it.
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Post by magentapea on Aug 21, 2014 21:05:10 GMT
Honestly there's nothing you can do. You can't warn her she is about to be fired because you don't know that and even if you did you would not be allowed to tell her. Any hint would just make her paranoid and unhappy at work. I would just sit her down and tell her she needs to find a new method to pay attention to detail better.  (on a side note, I've been wanting to use that character) |
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,630
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 21, 2014 21:06:12 GMT
Why wouldn't you fill her in on what happened? Would you do that for another co-worker? I wouldn't tell her what the engineer said but I would tell her what happened.
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Post by KelleeM on Aug 21, 2014 21:11:03 GMT
If I wasn't friends I wouldn't say anything. I really have no responsibilities in my supervisor's absence aside from making sure everyone in the group is doing their day to day work, answering questions, prioritizing work, and facilitating things with other groups when needed. The engineer made his comment because he knows we're friends.
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Post by KelleeM on Aug 21, 2014 21:13:14 GMT
Ah, Peabay...you see, that's what I needed. I couldn't separate the whole mess into the smaller parts. Yes, I can and will tell her about what happened with the parts but not the rest of it. Thanks so much m
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Post by annabella on Aug 21, 2014 21:15:33 GMT
You should ask her if she's in the right field of work. Sometimes we end up at jobs that just aren't right for us but we stay because we're comfortable. She's been there 5 years, that's a great length for her resume, I would suggest she just start keeping an eye out for other opportunities out there because finding a new job takes a long time.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 3, 2024 9:07:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2014 21:16:57 GMT
If I wasn't friends I wouldn't say anything. I really have no responsibilities in my supervisor's absence aside from making sure everyone in the group is doing their day to day work, answering questions, prioritizing work, and facilitating things with other groups when needed. The engineer made his comment because he knows we're friends. Then I would say nothing. Like Linda said, you need to separate work from friendship. Having said that, should Rebecca survive this mistake, perhaps you can offer to mentor/train her so she won't continue to make these mistakes? |
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Post by winogirl on Aug 21, 2014 21:20:01 GMT
I'd wait until next week and let the supervisor handle it. After all, it's almost Friday anyway. Why ruin her weekend (and possibly yours)?
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Post by eebud on Aug 21, 2014 21:25:09 GMT
Ah, Peabay...you see, that's what I needed. I couldn't separate the whole mess into the smaller parts. Yes, I can and will tell her about what happened with the parts but not the rest of it. Thanks so much m This is what I would do too. I don't see any reason not to tell her what happened. It doesn't sound you have managerial authorization to do anything about the situation so I would let that wait until the boss is back. |
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Post by kimpossible on Aug 21, 2014 22:31:52 GMT
Stay clear of discussing it with her. It sounds like a huge error enough that a customer has written her up about it This will go up the "food chain" and have to be resolved. She might be embarrassed or mad at you for having found out before her.
As a friend, you might be more important to be there if she does lose her job.
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Post by KelleeM on Aug 21, 2014 22:49:25 GMT
Thanks everyone.
She has been spoken to MANY MANY times over the years. I have coached her, the supervisor has coached her, she's been written up at least once and verbally warned many times. She tries to do everything too quickly. It works against her much of the time. She is in the wrong job but in spite of her efforts she can't find another job. She has a very specialized degree and would probably do really well working in that field but there's not a lot of turnover and the job she had prior to this one was eliminated.
I really appreciate the input...if I say anything to her tomorrow it will just be about the parts being rejected and why, I wouldn't repeat anything else the engineer said.
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Post by annabella on Aug 21, 2014 23:05:21 GMT
A lot of people don't work in what their degrees are for. Perhaps she needs a career coach to help her to figure out what types of jobs she would be a good fit for or where her skills could be transferable to. I see people change industries all the time, she just needs some inspiration on how to look more broadly in the job market.
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Post by disneypal on Aug 21, 2014 23:17:55 GMT
That is tough - but if your first thought was not to say anything, then I think you should listen to your initial thoughts and let the boss handle it.
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 21, 2014 23:32:41 GMT
The engineer made his comment because he knows we're friends. Since you are not in a supervisory capacity, say nothing. Why? Because nothing good can come out of this for you if you do. Not your circus, not your monkeys  |
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 21, 2014 23:57:13 GMT
Is it clear that you are not in any way going to be blamed for this mistake? You can't save her. If she isn't right for the job then she needs to go, because she's holding up the entire team and causing problems. This is clearly your supervisor's problem. I would tell your co-worker about the mistake and leave it there. It's up to your supervisor to handle any repercussions that will happen to your co-worker. That's a headache that you do not need. They need to let her go. I hate to see anyone fired in this economy, but she isn't capable of the job and it's causing too many issues for other people. Look at the position she put you in over this?
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Post by KelleeM on Aug 26, 2014 21:56:51 GMT
btt for update
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Post by smokeynspike on Aug 27, 2014 4:16:56 GMT
What was the solution?
Melissa
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(on a side note, I've been wanting to use that character)
