Got upset at work

[Quitescaredx]

I’ve been training at home for a job via teams. They were starting people on different dates and I started on my own so had no buddies so to speak .
I had a mentor from another office who said I could ask any questions. I asked about a process a staff member had done as I was confused about it. I got told this staff member was doing it wrong and would need to be reported ( he didn’t to be honest ). So the mentor reported it .

My manager said to me I shouldn’t have done what I did because this has affected the staff members review and can I keep everything in house . I was so upset and didn’t know what to say as all I did was want clarification on a process .

I felt very upset over this and was in tears as the job I am doing is stressful . I messaged my manager saying I felt upset over it and would like clarification as to what I did wrong . Now I regret messaging her as I don’t want any grief.

Was I in the wrong at any point here ? How can I smooth this over or can I? I’m in probation as it is .

Oh it sounds very stressful, I’m sorry! I’m sure it will get better as you get to know people - I don’t see what you could have done different really, your manager should have assigned you a mentor in the same office if that was so important! The person who has handled this slightly badly is the mentor I think though it does depend what kind of mistake was being made.

When you say you were told to keep something in house, do you mean you didn’t understand something within your team and instead of asking your team members or team manager about it you went to somebody (your mentor) who is in another team?

If you do, well then yes I think this was not the right way to go about it. I would certainly want somebody in my team to come to me if they see a problem not go to an “outsider”. This is not so as to protect a team member or their appraisal, I would simply see it as a basic courtesy and work place etiquette. A mentor is usually there for more general career advice and support, not to help with specific processes, that is your managers job.

So yes, I think you were in the wrong, but it is not the end of the world. You need to take this as constructive advice and take a learning from it, we all make mistakes when we are starting out and you will be forgiven as you get up to speed.

Hi April , it was a company wide process . I was given a mentor to help with my training . The mentor was in place of the manager . Due to everything being short staff I had a mentor rather than my manager. I was discussing a process that I had observed step by step and this mentor told me that the staff member had done it wrong and it would need to be reported .
I think I was naive to be honest, but will deffo not say anything again .

Presumably your manager allocated you to the mentor? If so, I don't think you've done anything wrong. You have raised a query with the person who was put in place to answer your queries. As a pp said, your manager should have allocated you a mentor in your own department if they were worried about that kind of thing.

Your manager is probably on the defensive because a mistake has come to light and they are worried some chickens might come home to roost at their door. Not your problem - the mistake has come to light and any decent manager would take ownership of it.