Would Your Report This? (Work Question)

[disykat]

I would have rolled my eyes, thought "whatever" and continued on never giving it another thought.

When you work in a service industry, usually thinking about your clientele is pretty much automatic. I would assume the first thought would be "what if that had been a patient?"

 

[jrmasm]

I would have rolled my eyes, thought "whatever" and continued on never giving it another thought.

Me too.

Me three.

 

[DizBelle]

Because one is illegal and one isn't? And no, yelling a cuss word does not qualify as "verbal assault".

It is a crime to stab someone else in the chest. It is not a crime to not report such a thing. It is not illegal to mind your own business. A crappy thing to do? Yes. Criminal? No.

The only times it is illegal is when the witness is a "mandatory reporter" like a teacher or health care provider or such - and then only in some states. A guy on the street who happens to see something is not a mandatory reporter. He can keep his mouth shut if he chooses to do so.

 

[npmommie]

Some of you people could never work some jobs that I have been at- even at the one I am in now, thousands of people, big company and there is not a day goes by where you don't hear someone say "shut the **** up" to someone or call someone someone offensive name- thank god we are not a bunch of tattletales running to tell everytime someone insults us. Bosses have all been known to yell foul language at everyone too-- it is what it is. When I first got hired the one big rule that is told is that there is NO ratting. If you rat there was always some type of retaliation.
I tell my daughter not to be a rat in school too unless it is causing harm to a person. She recently came home to tell me a kid was cutting themselves, yes, that is causing harm. A kid skipping school, not her business.

What type of setting do you work in?
Do you have customers? Do your coworkers talk like that to them?

OP did she know who you were? Or you were just a random person to her?

What if you were a patient coming in and encountered her as the clerk in that department. How do you think that would feel? I know for me it would make me uncomfortable and i would probably want to leave.
I think the idea someone had about a memo going out to everyone is good. This person will get the hint, and realize hopefully to watch herself.

 

[ols386]

So an employee, in his or her own car, trying to go home after a long day at the hospital, isn't allowed to blow off a little steam when three people are standing on a medium in between the entrance and exit to the parking lot?

Why are you on the median? Wasn't there someone else to stand? What if one of you lost your footing and got hit by this person? Maybe that's what he or she was worrying about.

Maybe they are allowed to blow off steam, but it's sure not the best way to handle it. Could come across as a bad reflection on the hospital, if the employee were yelling, etc., at folks who might happen to be there to visit family or friends who are patients.

I seriously doubt the driver was "worried" about hitting them.

 

[sam_gordon]

It is a crime to stab someone else in the chest. It is not a crime to not report such a thing. It is not illegal to mind your own business. A crappy thing to do? Yes. Criminal? No.

The only times it is illegal is when the witness is a "mandatory reporter" like a teacher or health care provider or such - and then only in some states. A guy on the street who happens to see something is not a mandatory reporter. He can keep his mouth shut if he chooses to do so.

I have no idea what you're trying to say. You asked why it matters whether some "tattles" on someone for stabbing another person or "tattles" because someone said a cuss word. My answer... one (the stabbing) is illegal, the other (cussing) is not.

 

[Lorien728]

I would address it with their supervisor. if this person can't handle acting professional in their work environment then they should find a new job. Blowing off steam or not--you don't act that way in or around work.

 

[sam_gordon]

What if you were a patient coming in and encountered her as the clerk in that department. How do you think that would feel? I know for me it would make me uncomfortable and i would probably want to leave.

So a patient walking into the hospital would encounter someone who was driving away? I'm confused.

In my opinion, you are "representing your employer" when...
1) You are doing work for your employer.
2) You are wearing clothing identifying you as an employee.
3) You make a point of mentioning where you work.
4) You are driving a marked company car.
5) You are a "face" of the company.

I don't see where the situation in the OP falls into any of the above. Then again, I'm a big proponent of employers staying out of the private lives of employees.

If I decide to go out and get drunk and make a fool of myself, unless it happened during one of the above five things, my employer should ignore it. My opinion.

 

[Arielle22]

Speaking as a HR Mgr, if this complaint was brought to me, I would have 2 possible reactions.

1) Employee has had no other disciplinary actions. Employee is told don't do it again.

2) Employee is involved in disiciplinary actions already and this incident might prompt further action.

I spent 7 years in HR at a car dealership. Lots of interactions in the parking lots. Usually the managerial reaction was cut it out, don't do that where the customers might see you.

OP, keep in mind the longer you wait to contact anyone about it (either the employee or employer) the less serious the issue is taken. It is was a bad problem, you wouldn't have waited before reporting it.

 

[ols386]

So a patient walking into the hospital would encounter someone who was driving away? I'm confused.

In my opinion, you are "representing your employer" when...
1) You are doing work for your employer.
2) You are wearing clothing identifying you as an employee.
3) You make a point of mentioning where you work.
4) You are driving a marked company car.
5) You are a "face" of the company.

I don't see where the situation in the OP falls into any of the above. Then again, I'm a big proponent of employers staying out of the private lives of employees.

If I decide to go out and get drunk and make a fool of myself, unless it happened during one of the above five things, my employer should ignore it. My opinion.

If it was a patient that was walking towards the hospital to be admitted, and got cursed out by an employe driving away, that patient could possibly encounter the employe the next day or days later, if they were an in-patient.

Most hospitals where I have been, have an "employe" parking lot, so either pulling into that parking lot, or pulling out of that parking lot, they are going to be identified as being an employee. Not exactly a good reflection on the hospital.

 

[Mariep26]

I wouldn't say anything. If that is the way she behaves on a regular basis, she will eventually do it to the wrong person (like a high level employee that will make it a point to fire her). If it was an isolated incident and that is not how she normally behaves then it won't be an issue.

If you feel compelled to say something, I would do so directly to her.

 

[Jennasis]

I picked up a copy of George Orwell's 1984 the other day. It was quite thought provoking. However it's my opinion that we have less to worry about from "Big Brother" and more to worry about from "Little Sister".

 

[DizBelle]

I have no idea what you're trying to say. You asked why it matters whether some "tattles" on someone for stabbing another person or "tattles" because someone said a cuss word. My answer... one (the stabbing) is illegal, the other (cussing) is not.

I'm trying to say that if tattling is bad then tattling is bad no matter what is being tattled. Stabbing or foul language doesn't matter. If you tell someone else it happened, it is tattling.

If you are going to contend that it does matter, then in what situations is tattling ok and in what situations is it not? What's the rule?

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm trying to say that if tattling is bad then tattling is bad no matter what is being tattled. Stabbing or foul language doesn't matter. If you tell someone else it happened, it is tattling.

If you are going to contend that it does matter, then in what situations is tattling ok and in what situations is it not? What's the rule?

I think it was answered fairly well upthread...

I tell my daughter not to be a rat in school too unless it is causing harm to a person. She recently came home to tell me a kid was cutting themselves, yes, that is causing harm. A kid skipping school, not her business.

Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions. The OP's situation does not fall into one of those exceptions, IMO.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I work at a hospital. I was meeting with the Grounds Spvr. and a sign vendor to discuss repairing a parking lot sign. We were standing on a concrete island between the enter and exit drive lanes assessing the sign when an employee drove by throwing her hands in the air and yelled "get the **** out of the way" with an angry scowl on her face. We were just doing our job. We weren't in anyone's way. We didn't deserve it.

I'm not a prude, I'm not easily offended, but this made me pretty angry and embarrassed. I really love my job, and I love what we as a hospital do for our patients. I would be devestated if I had a freind or someone on the street tell me, yeah I was at the hospital and an employee told me to get the **** out of their way. We had jackets over our badges so this girl really had no idea if we were employees, patients or people just walking down the sidewalk.

I'm torn if I should "tell". I don't wish to hurt anyone's work and everyone has made bad decisions and have said things they shouldn't. On the other hand, I don't wish to lose patients or have people saying bad things about my workplace because of another employee using abusive, foul language.

Would you report it?

No, I wouldn't report it because I'm not a big baby, nor do I tattletale, and I would hate getting someone else in trouble over something that is so minor in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Laura66]

I'd think (in my head) either A - they had a bad day or B - what an *******! And go about my day.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I've been in law enforcement for over 15 years. I can assure you I've heard every curse or insult imaginable. And behind closed doors, there is no shortage of foul language. That being said, there is a difference between "street" talk amongst your trusted coworkers and shouting it at strangers out in the parking lot.

I've got 5 years on you Bro!! I'd think aliens replaced their bodies if I went a day with out hearing **** at least 50 times....sometime just from one person

I dislike someone acting that way in a hospital environment. I guess that I could see patients being outside and not needing that type of treatment.

I'm surprised that apparently so many people work at places where others curse like sailors. My company would show such people the door.

There's a reason for the phrase "curse like a sailor"....a common thing in military, as well as in law enforcement....guess we should show them the door too?

I would have rolled my eyes, thought "whatever" and continued on never giving it another thought.

I'd think, "ok, that makes 51 times today!"

It is a crime to stab someone else in the chest. It is not a crime to not report such a thing. It is not illegal to mind your own business. A crappy thing to do? Yes. Criminal? No.

18 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2011 Edition
Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 4 - Misprision of felony
From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov

§4. Misprision of felony
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 684; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C. 1940 ed., §251 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §146, 35 Stat. 1114).
Changes in phraseology only.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.

 

[goofyintoronto]

No, I wouldn't report it because I'm not a big baby, nor do I tattletale, and I would hate getting someone else in trouble over something that is so minor in the grand scheme of things.

Thats exactly the point i was trying to make earlier. I would hate to get someone in trouble over something so minor. If you report things like this, where does it stop? where do you draw the line?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Unprofessional and irrational behavior is not minor. It is not normal behavior to speak like that to people, especially on your employer's property. Rational thinking people can control themselves, and would not speak like that to someone when a simple tap of the horn, or saying excuse me out the window would achieve the same results.

The hospital is not a police station or military base, and the behavior expectations are not the same.

The person that's the big baby here, is the nutcase cursing at strangers out their car window.

 

[tefrench]

Thats exactly the point i was trying to make earlier. I would hate to get someone in trouble over something so minor. If you report things like this, where does it stop? where do you draw the line?

Well, I am honestly-honest!- confused. On the thread about the Joys of the Workplace where the OP is complaining about people putting too much food in the freezer, you say and I loosely quote, "Contact the supervisor/manager and have them deal with it." Isn't that tattling?

See to me, the frig deal is minor. An employee on their work property cursing out others is a big deal and highly unprofessional.

Now, I wouldn't let it ruin my day, but if I was in a managerial position at that hospital, I would definitely report it.

Of course, I live in a rural area, and something like that would be highly unusual. New York City or somewhere similar? I'd expect it!