To tell my work friend she messed up?

[reventia]

I have just started a healthcare job after 3 years of training. My friend at work is in the same position.

She handed over to a colleague for the day shift. It has been found that she has got something wrong.

Not something catastrophic or that's harmed anyone, but has been pretty off in her interpretation of something.

I have overheard our colleague telling our boss about this. She will know doubt be spoken to about this, but she now has 2 weeks off so won't know until she's back in.

Should I give her a heads up? I feel bad that I know, and that I could've warned her. I don't want her to be blindsided, which she will be if I don't say anything.

But equally, is it my place? And I don't want to ruin her annual leave, as I know she will stress about this.

Just want to do right by by friend.

I wouldn't say anything to her based on what you overheard. Let your boss deal with it.

It's up to her manager or supervisor to discuss her performance with her.

Stay in your lane.

If there's the potential for serious consequences, and it's the kind of thing where having what you want to say to a manager prepared would be helpful, I'd give her a heads up a couple of days before she's due back.

If it's not that serious, and likely to just be a bit of extra training or a chat with her manager I wouldn't say anything.

Either way I'd leave her to enjoy her holiday for now.

Don’t tell her. You’ll spoil her time off work and make her anxious.

I'm in the do not tell her camp because

1. You can't be certain what you heard or what action will be taken.
2. She'll be worried about it (even if you tell her the night before) and it could cause unnecessary stress.
3. If it gets back to them, your manager may not be impressed that you overhead a conversation you weren't meant to hear and then told your friend.
4. Your friend might be quite embarrassed that you know about it and could then think other colleagues might know as well. It's horrible thinking everyone you work with knows about a mistake.

Let her manager do their job here. If your friend brings it up with you, then you can offer support.

I wouldn't say anything. You overheard it. You may not be accurate. It is none of your business.

Telling her in advance will cause her prolonged stress. She will be stressed enough when she comes back to work so just leave it.

Telling her does her no favours.

Definitely don't tell her now and ruin her leave. Do you think she will benefit from being forewarned or embarrassed that you know about her error? It might be kinder (and more professional) for you forget what you overheard.

TBH, in this scenario I wouldn’t say anything, it’s often a case of ‘don’t shoot the messenger’ or ‘ no good deed goes unpunished’ it can’t be major so not worth telling her whilst she’s off work.

I would keep quiet. If she's just started as you have, and it's a skill issue it doesn't mean she's going to get into trouble. Your other colleague may have been telling the Manager so that they can implement some training when she's back. You may also have only got part of the conversation or the wrong end of the stick. No point in worrying her. You don't know for certain that they will even speak to her.

It would be very unprofessional of you.

Could be a disciplinary for you if you get involved. (HR)

Leave it be. It has nothing to do with you, you won't be doing her any favours by telling her

Personally I'd say nothing, it's between her and management. You may think you have her back but it can turn back to you. A colleague was in the same position as you, she told the friend she had overheard management discussing her and warned her so she could prepare a reasons. But when the woman was pulled up for it she turned it round saying management had been openly gossiping about her and named the friend who had overheard told her! She tried to turn it into a confidentiality issue. That meant the friend who told her was named and also pulled up by management.

Personally I don't get too close and friendly to people at work, ppl can be unpredictable when pressured.

It is in no way professional for you to involve yourself, and you may well end up in a meeting with HR for doing so.

Leave it well alone

I have just started a healthcare job after 3 years of training.

Er, no. Wind your neck in.

If you overheard then it’s open to misinterpretation - and also could reflect extremely poorly on you if she mentions during her feedback that you already shared overheard information with her.

You aren’t her manager - and you weren’t supposed to hear. I think the most appropriate thing to do is pretend you never heard it.

This is so typical of healthcare workplaces. Everyone getting involved when they don't know the full story. Leave it up to her line manager and it will be dealt with.

Oops wrong post.

Entirely. Don't get involved. Even if, as I suspect, you really love stirring the pot when there's the possibility of a bit of drama. Mind your own business and don't eavesdrop on other people's conversations.

Say nothing. You have only overheard a conversation. If you told me the day before I was going back into work that I had 'messed up' and somebody was likely to speak to me I wouldn't sleep all night for worry and probably start catastrophising and ruining the break I'd already had.

Much better to leave work issues in work. If she is spoken to she will be told what the issue is and what action they may take and it's done and dusted without a potentially unnecessary sleepless night beforehand.

I agree don’t tell her. Also, when newly qualified into a healthcare profession you should have preceptorship support & a buddy on shift for the first few weeks. Mistakes can & do happen, but the learning from it can be implemented in a supportive way.

Even if, as I suspect, you really love stirring the pot when there's the possibility of a bit of drama

??

I feel like that's a very odd take away from my post.

We work in a difficult, and no very supportive, work environment. Those is our cohort are anxious and often feel incompetent. I would want to know if it was me, but I don't know whether it's the right thing to do.

If I wanted to "stir the pot" then I would've just told her, or say I heard so and so bitching about you friend.

How you can get from that, that I love drama, is baffling to me.

Some people on MN are so unkind for no reason.

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

I overheard, but in the office there's a large board when there's and update with our patients it's written down.

Her mistake was plain to see, in big capital letters across the board. So I know for a fact she has made the mistake.

Thank you so much for so many helpful responses. I won't tell her. I didn't want to be a bad friend in letting her be blindsided, but seems the best idea is to stay out of it.

I wouldn't tell her - it doesn't sound like a massive issue so don't let it play on her mind when she's away. When she is back at work her manager will mention it to her, and that is time enough.

Not your place. You do not know the details or how it may have impacted others, just hearsay.