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Original poster

I have done something really bad at work. Meeting tomorrow to discuss it. So so ashamed and worried.

268 replies

daytimemom · 21/08/2018 19:19

I am so ashamed. I have done something unforgivable at work. My stomach is churning. Just checked my work emails from home and saw one from my manager saying under no circumstances must I access a work database (will call it RED) and we will be having a meeting about it tomorrow.

RED is a new database I have just been given access to. It is an appointment booking database for work colleagues. Last week I was playing around on RED trying to work out how to use it as I needed to make an appointment for a colleague. I noticed I was down as a manager for a couple of colleagues on RED (I don’t manage anyone) so clicked on these colleagues names to see who they were. It brought up confidential info on them like address and date of birth. Accessing these colleagues details was my first mistake.

My second was clicking on my own name, I wanted to see what it said ie why I was down as a manager & in all honesty I was curious.

So by accessing my own record I have breached all our organisations information governance policies. I know it was wrong and I don’t know why I didn’t think about this at the time. So so stupid.

I now feel sick to my stomach. I am on probation so they could just sack me. How will I get another job with this on my record Sad I know I have done something unforgivable but I don’t know how I will be able to cope with this Sad

OP posts:
Giantcatbear · 22/08/2018 17:42

This really doesn't sound like your problem. Someone has incorrectly listed you as a manager of people you don't manage and given you permissions for things you shouldn't have had permissions for. If they don't want you to access this data is shouldn't be accessible. I can't even tell if you are in trouble at all from the details of the email from your manager... I wouldn't worry too much.

user1485851222 · 22/08/2018 17:47

HR should get involved, explain you should have been given training, before having access to the new system, especially if it contains data protection material. Plus if the people you clicked on do not report to you, you shouldn't have been able to open anything about them by clicking on their details. No training, no knowledge,

Nearly47 · 22/08/2018 17:51

I've done worth ( mistake that caused to company to loose several clients) and am still here. Don't work your self up too much. I am sure it will be fine.

Smudge100 · 22/08/2018 17:54

Doesn‘t sound unforgiveable at all. Their mistake to give you access.

Totalshambles · 22/08/2018 18:01

You did what any human would do. The problem was with the access.

NewSparkle · 22/08/2018 18:05

How did you get on?

MdNdD · 22/08/2018 18:06

Once you realised you were looking at something you shouldn't have, your responsibility was to exit the system and tell someone you may have been given the wrong access.

However, I would argue very strongly that this was not actually your fault as the access given to you was wrong.

If they are hard on you, it is totally unreasonable. They have given you the wrong access as it is the responsibility of the administrators / business owners to ensure that the correct access is given. Not your fault.

Myheartbelongsto · 22/08/2018 18:08

Great update op, glad it went well for you.

achoocashew · 22/08/2018 18:12

Newsparkle. RTFT

Turquoise123 · 22/08/2018 18:13

Calm down please! This is just not as bad as you think. It’s become clear that there is an issue with the database. People have been given access to info that is confidential. The person who is responsible for the database needs to work out what has happened so they will ask you some basic questions. Just be clear that you have not passed anything on nor have you told anyone anything and you could not work out what the database was doing showing you as a manager.

I suspect they are speaking to lots of people .Itis not a big deal for you but might be for whoever configured the database so that confidential data could be accessed by the wrong person

nocoolnamesleft · 22/08/2018 18:16

You loused up. They loused up far worse. I am really glad for you that your managers/organisation recognised this. And after this, I trust you're going to be extremely careful about data access! Phew.

Crazybaglady72 · 22/08/2018 18:24

Are you sure you've got the purpose of the meeting right? Are you perhaps feeling guilty and assuming that you're in trouble - might be just to clarify things you're allowed/not allowed to do?
Personally, I think it's their mistake - safeguarding/data protection is huge at the moment and they shouldn't give access and just expect people not to look. What if your password had been taken and someone else managed to get onto your account? They could access all sorts the way the system is set up! I'd play it dumb but not be too submissive/apologetic. 1)You were given access but no training
2) THEY have allowed you to look at things they don't want you to by giving access
3) you only looked at your info - surely that's freedom of information /Data you have the right to see - if not whats so private on there about you that youre not allkwed to know - hmmm? Id be asking!
Remember no one died - it's not that bad - hope it goes ok x

Liketoshop · 22/08/2018 18:27

What a nonsense! Have you had formal training on this database, what the dos and do nots are, because if not, they are on very dodgy ground to formally chastise you imo. If I access my pathology results at work, I could be disciplined and I wouldn't anyway but accessing info you gave them in the first instance is a joke. Stand your ground and I really feel for your stress. Been there x

Liketoshop · 22/08/2018 18:28

PS take a supportive colleague or trade union rep. Do Not go alone

Ravenesque · 22/08/2018 18:34

I really don't think you've done anything wrong. You weren't looking to find out personal information about anyone other than yourself, which a lot of us would be tempted to do.

Also, if it makes you feel better, many years ago a colleague (who was also a friend) and I totally broke our companies whole database. This was before the days of the internet, I'm old, and we were terrified. No one's computers would work, we thought we'd lost all the information that had been stored, it was a total clusterfuck of awfulness. It was fixed in the end, but it took days and there was a fault on the network ever after. We didn't get in trouble because it was an honest mistake and down to us not being given all the information we needed to do a straight backup. That was the most scared I've ever been at a job. Ever.

CeeCeeAndAida · 22/08/2018 18:34

For more recent posters, it's already been sorted. The OP gave us a few updates at lunchtime today. No blame on her shoulders at all.

IncrediblySturdyPyjamas · 22/08/2018 18:34

Read the flipping thread people!

topcat2014 · 22/08/2018 18:34

Good luck OP.

I'll just share my fxx up.

I forgot to respond to our bank manager in time (the company was in dire straits), and the MD had to travel to Birmingham on a Saturday because of it.

I got a bollocking, but we all lived to tell the tale.

I agree that the fault lies with how the software was set up, and lack of training.

Not your fault..

topcat2014 · 22/08/2018 18:35

Glad to hear it was sorted. Read page 1 then jumped to 10..

CuriousaboutSamphire · 22/08/2018 18:35

PS... the sitwation has moved on a bit, Liketoshop it has all ended well!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 22/08/2018 18:36

Grin makes you jump when that happens doesn't it?

EdisonLightBulb · 22/08/2018 18:52

Sorry you went through all that OP. Sounds like someone in IT realised they had fucked up and was trying to cover all avenues to save their own skin.

No lesson to be learnt for you as far as I am concerned but I hope the other person learnt from it!

ScottyTotty2 · 22/08/2018 19:02

Phone ICO and explain incident. At least you will be able to know if they feel there has been a data breach.

Record the meeting on your phone (in your bag) or have a third party to take notes.

Tatti · 22/08/2018 19:03

You didn't do this deliberately or with any intent to abuse information. In fact I would argue that you were put in a situation that you shouldn't have been put in. Go into the meeting confidently and with the intention that everybody should learn from this IT error - which wasn't yours - and hopefully avoid similar ones in the future.
It sounds like the system had some teething problems and luckily it was picked up by somebody (you!) with innocent intentions.

EBearhug · 22/08/2018 19:22

Please RTFT. OP has been to the meeting and updated, and everything is fine.

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