kukulemon

I am not familiar with American culture of coworkers? relationships.
Say, you have a coworker that you don't really like and he/she does some mistakes, which he/she wants to hide. Do you go to your boss (you both have the same boss) and tell about your coworker?
In Russia it is unspeakable. If you are a good person you will never do this, no matter how much you hate those coworker.
But here it seems to be no problem. Even in school children are encouraged to tell about their friend's mistakes to teacher.
What do you think about it? (It IS a travel question if think about cultural differences).

diann

It depends on the type of work. There is a lot of emphasis on being compliant in the workplace. If the work is critical, pertains to quality control issues, if this persons mistake could hurt someone else it is most likely encouraged to take the problem to a higher level. Hating or not hating someone would have nothing to do with the compliance issue, but it is viewed as ethical to tell on someone. If it is trival, then I would keep quiet. I wouldn't be a snitch. I think it would all depends on the work, and circumstances.

Pumpy

Sure, tell everyone (including their spouse). Everyone knows that Americans love "tattle tales/ rat finks/ snitches." I'm sure your friend/co-worker will thank you in your next life. PS: By the way Kukulemon, hows Fran & Ollie?

angeleno

pointing out people's mistakes is a sign of team work - you want the error to be caught so it can be corrected, etc. The problem is when people are malicious about it. I don't mind someone correcting me as long as it's not done to bolster someone else's ego.

GoTravel

Years ago a girlfriend of mine was interviewing with Delta for a job as a flight attendant. One of the questions on the exam was something like:

As a flight attendant you see your coworker doing something against policy inflight. What do you do?

a) Keep it to yourself so as not to look
like a tattletale?

b) Pull your coworker aside and point
out the breach in policy so they do
not lose their job?

c) Immediately tell your supervisor?

The answer was 'C' because being a flight attendant a breach of policy in flight could cause harm or death to everyone on board the plane.

Thought it was an interesting question. Don't know if they still use it but interesting nonetheless.

ARKANSASNURSE

In my line of work you can get sued for mistakes. Someone could die etc. Yes we tell, first point out error to person making it, then if repeated tell supervisor, unless error is so grossly negligent then the supervisor is alerted immdiately. Afterall, the patient comes first.

kukulemon

I would definitely choose B. We all do mistakes and next time I can be in this situation. But if this does not help, then go to a superviser. This is unusual situation. I am speaking about mistakes that could be corrected outside ?supervisor?s area?. I think people tell things about their coworker just to save their own ass ? may be get a promotion instead of this person or something like that. By the way, what is English word for that?

diann

It is referred to as being a "brown noser."

ARKANSASNURSE

Diann, so...if your urinary catheter is 'accidentally' hooked to your IV, what would you want done? Would you look forward to seeing that nurse again, at your bedside? Because we wouldn't want to brown nose the supervisor and tell on the offending nurse? And I am willing to bet you'd sue.