Telling colleagues about new job

[C1u4toff]

Will break this down as easy as possible

Monday 20th Jan spoke to HR about the possibility of changing depts as they were currently employing.

Wednesday 22nd January head of HR talked with me about possibility of a compleltely new role working for CEO (took me by surprise as he already has an exec assistant but was advised we be working together). Was asked to meet CEO for a discussion. Was asked to keep confidential.

Thursday 22rd Jan met CEO and head of HR and had informal interview. Again advised be working in a small team of admin if offered job.

Friday 24th I received an email after goi g home offering me the job and stating that HR will get me set up with details.

On the Monday morning I told my team of 3 colleagues and 1 other from another department as I was very happy and excited. Obviously word got round.

My director asked to speak to me today to ask if I had told anyone as the person in the role has not been informed and she is not happy.

Wibu to tell people? I had assumed that someone would have told the other lady I would be working with her.
My anxiety is through the roof as I am scared I have compromised this new opportunity

Well Intermittent we'll have to agree to disagree because IMO, being told by the Head of HR, or the CEO to "Keep this confidential" about anything, generally means

1. Until you're explicitly told otherwise.

1. Until someone with a higher position than you within the company, makes it general knowledge.

Coffee whilst I fully admit that this was an oversight my current position entails generating quotations and tenders worth millions. I deal with contracts etc and have done for 3 years. I understand confidentiality etc. As I stated I was told that the interview with the CEO should remain confidential however in my email offer there was no mention of keeping my offer confidential. In hindsight I agree I should have at least asked if I could share but it is unfair for you to judge my ability in everything. My CEO at no point said anything about keeping this confidential

Well said, OP.

I’m an Exec assistant, I would not expect someone in my profession to tell anyone this news until told they could.

Every single thing I am told or see is confidential. Trust is key in an EA relationship. It’s not something I would have done.

That being said, you’ve done it now. I would just make sure you learn from it. Good luck it’s the new role.

If you were offered the job on Friday evening no one had time to speak to anyone else by Monday morning when you told 4 people. How could they tell the other person, did you even have time to accept the job offer? f I was asked to keep it confidential on the Wednesday I would have thought that meant throughout the process, until details had been finalised.

I would really expect my staff to be professional enough to contain their excitement. Sorry.

We finish half day on a Friday. In my email offer the Head of HR and CEO had already spoken with my manager and director to explain what was happening. At my Monday morning team meeting my manager told my team. Me telling them wasn't all about excitement it was about being able to explain to them first thay I had no intention of leaving them in diffs.

My advice OP is never going telling others until the contract is signed. As you’ve not had one yet I wouldn’t have said anything. I was in a similar position a few years ago, I kept quiet until I was told I could disclose to others.

Thank you olive. I have definitely learned the hard way. And I do feel very bad for the other colleague I will be working with as I'm sure she was blind sided by people coming to her to ask what was happening.

At my Monday morning team meeting my manager told my team

On the Monday morning I told my team of 3 colleagues and 1 other from another department as I was very happy and excited. Obviously word got round.

“but on the other hand I think the onus is more on them to tell you if it's meant to be confidential.” They did!

“Also, what is she unhappy about exactly?” I strongly suspect it’s been noticed they can’t manage the entire workload so an additional person is needed BUT if not handled sensitively bringing an additional person in might make her nervous about her own job security. That seems pretty obvious/common sense to me.

Remember HR don’t exist to serve employees, they exist to protect the company from employee based issues.

“Really, if it needs spelling out to that degree, then the person probably isn't suitable to be working around CEO levels of confidential information” I’d agree with that. In senior admin roles you say “nowt to nobody” until you’re certain it’s ok to.

At this level discretion is a key skill/aptitude.

“Really, if it needs spelling out to that degree, then the person probably isn't suitable to be working around CEO levels of confidential information” I’d agree with that. In senior admin roles you say “nowt to nobody” until you’re certain it’s ok to.
The OP has just addressed that rather offensive assertion.

They asked the OP to keep the MEETING confidential. Nothing about the ongoing recruitment process.

Remember HR don’t exist to serve employees, they exist to protect the company from employee based issues. Yes, I do know that, but thanks for the somewhat patronising reminder.

Nanna sorry didn't explain that well. I told my colleagues at 8am when I got in as I knew that my manager was going to tell them. He did at 8.30 meeting. As I say I wanted to explain not just be o she is leaving us

YABU. You were told it was confidential. You should have clarified first whether you could tell people.

@IntermittentParps I think you need to calm down a little.

I wasn't addressing the HR comment specifically to you or anyone.

The op did try and defend her actions I know but I and others still think she acted incorrectly and are allowed to say so

Curious, are you actually trying to worry the OP? No. Just trying to leaven the "You'll be fine" with a little reality!

It is quite likley that the OP will be fine! But there is still room for the CEO to decide otherwise, with good reason. The OPs version of what happened is through her lens, the CEO may (that is may ) have a different take on it and OP should remain aware that this might be the case.

If aware she can think up a decent apology, forget excuses, trying to justify her actions. She may be able to get her thinking into the right place - accept she made an error and own it, be a grown up!

No matter what the outcome this should be a learning experience, not an exercise in self justification!

I think you need to calm down a little. Oh, another patronising assertion

I didn't like the HR comment and –guess what –am allowed to say so.