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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I think I've fucked up at work.

110 replies

RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 16:30

I work in healthcare and my job involves taking with clients a lot.

Today I rang someone, said I was calling from organisation name and asked to speak to (clients name). I thought it was the client who I've spoke to a few times but it wasn't, the person who answered (landline) said he was out. Because I said the organisation name I've fucked up, haven't I? We cater people who have a few conditions and the person who answered might not know client has these conditions. Our org name doesn't include anything to do with the conditions but all it would take would be a quick Google of our org name. Fuck fuck fuck!

OP posts:
CrumbsThatsQuick · 02/10/2021 16:32

Yes, a bit. Don't give yourself too hard a time. It happens. Best to check who you are talking to before saying your organisation name, but you know that. I am sure it will be fine, lesson learnt etc.

DragonDoor · 02/10/2021 16:33

It’s unlikely to come to anything, but perhaps it would put your mind at ease if you spoke to your line manager about it.

Do you know if it’s best practice not to mention the name of your organisation, or is it actually written down in the organisations policies and procedures ?

GoodnightGrandma · 02/10/2021 16:34

I ring people and, if it’s not the person I’m ringing for, they will always ask who it is. I don’t see how you can get round it really.

3amgoogle · 02/10/2021 16:38

If by organisation you mean something like a health Trust, you're probably fine. Just lwarn, and in future just think about what you'll say, and how you'll respond if asked.

If you said "It's Sally from the herpes clinic" maybe you fucked up.

Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 16:39

Thanks for your replies. Is it a sackable offence? It probably contravenes the confidentiality policy. I love my job. I'd hate to get let go because of it.

OP posts:
MydogWillow · 02/10/2021 16:39

I would imagine the person who answered didn't even clock the name of the organisation but I can understand your horror. Might be a good idea to speak with your line manager to tell them what happened.

3amgoogle · 02/10/2021 16:40

*Is it a sackable offence?"

God, no.

Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 16:43

It's not a health trust. It's a privately run organisation and if the person Googles what we are the consequences could potentially be terrible. I preach about the importance of confidentiality every day! Argh!

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 02/10/2021 16:44

this is one of those organisational policies that doesn't really work in real life. the organisation I work for has something similar, and we are not supposed to leave voicemail messages or say where we're calling from. Problem is, as anyone who reads MN knows, most people call screen numbers that they don't recognise, and don't call back voicemails that say "it's Jane Smith , please call" if no further details are given. So in reality my colleagues and I do sometimes leave a little more information, depending on how many times we've tried and how urgent things are.

Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 16:45

The irony is I shouldn't be working now but have this person and another on my mind as I'm behind at work due to things cropping up this week and haven'tbeen able to contact them. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered working!

OP posts:
Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 16:47

Thanks for all your replies. I'll try and chill out a bit then. I love my job and try so hard. I pride myself in the service I provide. Not today lol.

OP posts:
hashbrownsandwich · 02/10/2021 16:51

I work in healthcare too.

Best thing to do is fess up ASAP. Offer to apologise etc. You are human, you make mistakes. If your healthcare setting is anything like mine, you'll be stressed at the best of times too. I'm not saying that's an excuse but take the mature attitude of being proactive about your own mistake.

backoffice · 02/10/2021 16:54

I would ask your manager for advice. It could be a disciplinary issue yes. Depends on the org. It might need to be logged as a formal incident. Hopefully your manager can help. Good luck.

CasaBonita · 02/10/2021 16:56

Sally from the herpes clinic Grin

OP it's hard to say without knowing the nature of the organisation which I appreciate you won't reveal! If it's something of a very sensitive nature then yes there might be a bit of a backlash but as far as getting sacked then no, I can't see that happening.

Mantlemoose · 02/10/2021 16:57

To be honest if I received a call like this on the landline a) I can't imagine I wouldn't know someone I lived with had an illness but if i didn't I'd assume it was a cold call. I wouldn't worry about it at all. How are you meant to know any different?

GreenClock · 02/10/2021 16:57

Not the point I know, but the chances are that someone close enough to him to be answering his phone is aware of the issue. And as a pp said, he may not have clocked the company name.

Do you normally give your full name? What’s to stop the person googling you and funding out that you’re Sally Whatever from the herpes clinic? 🤷‍♀️

LaikO · 02/10/2021 16:59

I would tell your manager too, that way you'll know if it's okay, or if they'll need to log it or whatnot. It doesn't sound like it would be a sackable offence though.
If it happened to me it would only be for my partner, I probably wouldn't Google the name, just tell him that someone called from that organisation. I might talk to him if I did Google it for some reason and it turned out to be for something serious/potentially life-threatening that he hadn't mentioned to me.

VladmirsPoutine · 02/10/2021 17:01

Thing is it's a bit of an impossible position because even if you hadn't said the org name and just said "It's Jane, please tell Simon to call me back when he can." How would Simon get in touch if you didn't say who had called. You could even potentially have caused more of an issue by telling the person who answered that you refuse to tell them who you are/ where you're calling from.

That aside, I think there is some leeway in this as it's a landline you called and not a personal mobile number; anyone can answer a landline.

BelindaCinder · 02/10/2021 17:02

I’m inclined to think that you wouldn’t have had their landline number if it were likely to be a serious problem.

Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 17:02

@hashbrownsandwich

I work in healthcare too.

Best thing to do is fess up ASAP. Offer to apologise etc. You are human, you make mistakes. If your healthcare setting is anything like mine, you'll be stressed at the best of times too. I'm not saying that's an excuse but take the mature attitude of being proactive about your own mistake.

Yes it's so stressful at the moment which is why I'm working on my weekend off. Maybe I should just go and chill now lol.
OP posts:
Original poster
RainbowBriteUk · 02/10/2021 17:03

The person who answered said they were house sitting for the person so possibly a close friend or relative. Maybe even him but didn't want to talk to me!

OP posts:
GoWalkabout · 02/10/2021 17:08

Its pretty unlikely to be raised by the client I don't know that I would report myself, just learn from it or ask as a question 'should I avoid saying the organisation name when asked who's calling, because I keep getting asked'. In future I would just say 'I am Joe Bloggs and I am ringing them back/need to talk to them about their query / about an appointment'.

Couchbettato · 02/10/2021 17:09

If someone googled your companies name would it tell them what your expertise is?

If yes, then its public domain knowledge and you haven't fucked up.

If you've provided specific information about a client that's a breach of data protection.

GoWalkabout · 02/10/2021 17:09

Yes I guess it is mature and proactive to mention it. Do that OP.

applechips · 02/10/2021 17:09

This isn’t a sackable offence OP, people make mistakes like this all the time and there will be a procedure in place to report it, talk to your manager as soon as you can.