So I’ve been in a new job as a dental receptionist for nearly 8 weeks now.
I like the actual job itself, the hours are perfect and it’s round the corner from where I live. Sadly I’m struggling to enjoy working in a toxic work environment, even management had to have discussions with the 2 other receptionists as they had an argument a few weeks back that resulted in them not being able to work together for 2 days. One of whom is now leaving (probably for the best). The other receptionist who is staying had also been looking for another job and was given an offer but turned it down as it was same pay for a higher level role. Also the business has been meant to be expanding for a while now but because they can’t keep anyone on the desk long enough it hasn’t happened yet - apparently the plan is that once we are fully staffed on reception they with open up a hub (call centre type work) which she would help run.
On monday she pointed out a mistake on the diary with a patient’s appointment whilst I was in the middle of assisting another patient. She regularly points out mistakes I’ve made, at first I thought was just helping but now it just feels very demotivating and I’m finding it hard not to let it get me down. Anyway later on when it was quiet I asked her about it as I had no idea how I could have made that mistake (too complicated to explain what the mistake was) and it had been deleted off the system so I couldn’t even see evidence of said mistake. She just laughed and said that she had no idea and only I could make a mistake like that. On Tuesday I spoke to the other receptionist who is leaving about it as it had really got to me and as I spoke I got quite upset as I’m feeling really anxious atm. I explained that at first I thought it was new job nerves but now it feels more than that - I just don’t want to be there. Especially if I feel like I can’t do anything right. Anyway she said that it wasn’t just me, it used to happen to her too and also to other receptionists that used to work there too. She also said that I should tell management but I said I didn’t want to. I just needed to get it off my chest, not make an actual issue of it with management.
anyway I had training with someone on Thursday who works in a different building and she mentioned that she heard that I’d been upset by ‘that receptionist’ and that management had been planning on getting her to run the new department when they expand but they didn’t want her to do it anymore because of how she has upset people implying me included. Apparently they haven’t told her yet. I spoke to the receptionist that I’d confided in who said she had gone to management with what I told her and she was really sorry as i obviously didn’t want anyone else to know.
So now my anxious brain is worrying that a) that team member who told me this info might repeat this to someone else and it will sound like it’s my fault she hasn’t been promoted and b) is it my fault that she doesn’t get considered now for a role she has been promised for over 6 months.
personally I think she would need some serious training to help run/lead a new department but I don’t think she shouldn’t get it especially because of any issue I may have with her. I honestly just want to do my job and not get involved in any drama. I also feel like I’m working somewhere where I literally can’t talk about anything without it getting made into something bigger than it is.
anyway I just want to know what should I do now? I’m thinking I either say something to my manager and ask her about it and if she is now reconsidering my colleague for the role to ask her if my name doesn’t get mentioned at all as I do not want to be a reason she doesn’t get it. Or I just say nothing at all and hope I have nothing to worry about 🙈