I'm such a moron...

[adarhysenthe]

I made a huge mistake today at work. I came in, opened and everything went just fine. Then I received a call from a patient who'd come in on Saturday. She wanted to cancel everything (I work(ed) at an eye doctor's office, so it's glasses). Now, I knew that we had a no refund policy. But I told her it was possible and that the job hadn't gone out yet and I'd have the doctor call her back to see what she could do.

That was my mistake. According to my boss, I should have said "I will ask Dr. ___ and have her get back to you." So much simpler. My brain flew from my head.

Now I've made the doctor into the bad guy, have been verbally reamed for an hour and sent home early.

I'm turning in my two-week notice on Wednesday, having accepted a previously offered position that was luckily still open. And I feel better for the new position, but bad for having ditched the doctor....

[myswtghst]

I don't see the huge difference in what you said, compared to what you "should have" said. And I think it's a bit silly that you were sent home early for what was a simple slip of the tongue. But I also do stuff like that all the time at work - it happens when you work til the middle of the night.

[Bright_Star]

Wait a minute...what you said and what the boss wanted you to say are the same thing! That's what I see.
Makes sense for you to be giving notice.

[lizstar]

That's hardly what I would call a "huge mistake". Your boss blew things way out of proportion.

Doctors can be very hard people to work for. I lasted 6 months at a dentist's office before I went running back to retail. I make more money now ($10.75/hr vs. $8.25) and am much, much happier.

[wolfie]

Now, I knew that we had a no refund policy. But I told her it was possible and that the job hadn't gone out yet and I'd have the doctor call her back to see what she could do.

That was my mistake. According to my boss, I should have said "I will ask Dr. ___ and have her get back to you." So much simpler. My brain flew from my head.

I can see a couple of differences:
1. The doctor always wants to be referred to by name.
2. Your phrasing could be taken as implying that the level of effort expended by the doctor could have an impact on the outcome. Boss' phrasing makes it seem as if the doctor would be checking things to see if the job has already become irreversible, but can't affect the outcome.

Still, they're minor issues, and the only people who would be upset as a result of differences in #2 are SCs, who would hear only what they wanted, regardless of which version you used.

In your shoes (extended probation with no reasons given, blown up at for a minor item), I wouldn't have bothered giving the 2 weeks notice, and treated the day I was sent home early as my last day.

[adarhysenthe]

I'm tempted to do so. The doctor required of me to return on Wednesday with an essay stating what I did wrong and how I will improve (don't even get me started on how that affected my decision--it made my decision). I have three options with that: write the essay and a resignation letter, write the essay ending with the resignation letter (I like the false sense of security this one could bring), or just skipping the essay altogether and turning in the resignation letter instead. The fourth idea would be to turn in the resignation letter when I come in Wednesday and only pick up my paycheck, never to return. All appeal to me in a way.

According to the doctor, I put her in a bad position by saying it was possible when it wasn't and by mentioning the job was still there. Because of the weekend, it was, when normally we send the job out instantly so there is no possibility of stopping it.

[wagegoth]

The doctor is an ass. I'm sorry. That's why I won't work for a solo anything if I don't have to. A group is better; they balance each other out. And the essay thing? Who the hell does she think she is? Go, don't look back.

But, at the candy store, find out what accommodations you can get under the ADA and make sure they get made. And, please, don't look at the candy store as the rest of your life.

[adarhysenthe]

I don't intend to. But it's a good job that can and will get me through college, which could take a year or five.

[coolcuziknit]

You got reamed for an hour and sent home early for making a simple little mistake?? Wow!! Good for you for getting out of there, because if that's what you get for something fairly trivial, imagine what would happen if you made a mistake that mattered!!!

As for the essay??? You're not 12 years old! What a condescending prick or bitch. I would've written an essay all right!! Telling that doctor where to stick it!

[iviles]

That doc went overbored and as for the essay....get a grip! You never promised the customer anything! You only went to see if you could. Its easly remided with "oh sorry I just checked and we cant well we tryed are you sure you still want to cancel that order?" but it looked like you at lest tryed you know. Glad your getting out of there.

[StevieJD]

I'm tempted to do so. The doctor required of me to return on Wednesday with an essay stating what I did wrong and how I will improve (don't even get me started on how that affected my decision--it made my decision). I have three options with that: write the essay and a resignation letter, write the essay ending with the resignation letter (I like the false sense of security this one could bring), or just skipping the essay altogether and turning in the resignation letter instead. The fourth idea would be to turn in the resignation letter when I come in Wednesday and only pick up my paycheck, never to return. All appeal to me in a way.

According to the doctor, I put her in a bad position by saying it was possible when it wasn't and by mentioning the job was still there. Because of the weekend, it was, when normally we send the job out instantly so there is no possibility of stopping it.

I am going to play devil's advocate for a minute.

You are young. I am guessing 19-20 or something.

The Doc is older. I am guessing the Doc is MUCH older.

The Doc is old school.

The Doc is a bit of a control freak. Which is completely sensible as it is her license that is hanging on the wall and can be pulled by the state medical board.

Doc may also be from a social-economic background that dictates her superiority over employees.


Doc didn't fire you. Doc set some rules. And wants you to evaluate what you did and how she wants you to handle situations.

Think of this situation from another perspective. If Doc was your mom and she was really really waiting for a telephone call and you mishandled the call what would happen?


A couple other points. Doc makes money on the glasses being sold. The patient may be trying to acquire the glasses from another source. Maybe Doc knows the patient and the patient's past behavior. Maybe Doc whats a chance to appease the patient with cheaper glasses.

In addition you released business practice information to the patient. I worked my way through college working in a hospital. I may "KNOW" how long a procedure or test may take but it was not my position to release the information. Most importantly I could be wrong. In the instance of glasses being made to order the information given to the patient may not be what you and I know as the truth. Doc may intentionally tell the patient 4 days when 2 is the actual turn around time. The extra time may be intentionally added to cover mistakes or delays outside of the norm.


Look at this situation from a different perspective. You may still want to quit. Or Doc may give you a raise if you express sincere thoughts in your essay.


Oh and BTW there are issues that go beyond office staff stuff. Like I said I worked at a hospital while I was in college. I saw/overheard more than one Doc go bonkers on a nurse or staff member. Docs are the persons responsible when bad things happen and patients dying etc are bad things. Sometimes those lashing out events had nothing to do with current happenings rather the lashing out occurred because of something happened several hours past.