This reader posted in our anonymous Savvy Confessions group, asking if she should confess to a mistake she made at work. Do you have any advice for her?
I've recently started working at a new job, and a few days ago I realized I made a mistake on a project I've already submitted. The drafts were seen by my boss and by the client, and neither of them picked up the mistake, which is actually a bit odd. I know that once this project is released someone is bound to pick up on the mistake and the client will be really angry. I'm losing sleep over this, the mistake can't be rectified (it's been printed about 30,000 times) but I don't know if there's any point to coming clean because there's nothing anyone can do now. Should I wait until the mistake is noticed and then apologize profusely? I'm scared I'm going to lose my job over this and I hate thinking that because I really love my new job. I haven't told anyone about this, not even my partner, because unfortunately it's not the first time I've overlooked an important detail and I feel so embarrassed. I'm having a lot of problems in my personal life right now and my great new job has been the best part of my life for the last few weeks. I really don't want to mess that up too . . . if anyone has any advice I would really welcome it.
Pose your own anonymous questions or off-load your work confessions by posting in the Savvy Confessions group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.
I began a new job about 6 months ago and while I love what I do, I am having questions about whether or not the office that I am in is the right place for me. My co-workers are always gossiping & involved in drama, while I prefer to have as little drama in my life as possible. The office is very small, and only 6 people total work there, but I share a space with 2 of them. They are always instant messaging one another while we are all in the office, and they IM with the other people in our office. It is very uncomfortable, and I have a constant sense of anxiety & uneasiness. My job is already stressful enough (I work in substance abuse treatment), and self-care is very important to avoid burnout, but I have actually left work early in the past because I was so uncomfortable. It has gotten to a point where I sit at my desk with my head phones in, and just do my work without really talking to anyone. In a way, I feel very isolated, but I also realize that I isolate myself for self-preservation. I just don't know what to do. My boss knows about the gossiping and the drama, and he is fed up with it too, but won't do anything about it. He just keeps telling me that "they are on thin ice & better watch out." It is very frustrating. This position offers a lot of opportunity for personal advancement (outside of the company), and I have been told by a supervisor that if I can just stick it out for the full year, it would help me greatly with my future as a counselor. I am just trying to figure out if it is worth it. I was also told (by the same supervisor) that this is not the first time that this company has had issues like this with employees starting gossip, so I have very little hope that it will change. Please help shed some light on this situation.
