When Admitting Your Mistake Isn't the Last You Hear of It

the "worst" is having your supervisor(s) trash-talk you to other employees.

Actually, the worst is being written up and having "trash" in your file and/or no margin of safety for your next error.

The advantage (if there is one) in THIS little story is that the boss and the boss's boss may take a pass on the write-up BECAUSE one of them was caught being very unprofessional in the cafeteria about this specific matter.

Think TWICE before you admit anything voluntarily---unless your error is something that absolutely is going to be otherwise caught or cause some big catastrophe if not admitted. You do not need write-ups in the workplace climate of this century, and supervisors have less leeway than ever in their discretion to skip them.

Muser of NM 3:38PM January 14, 2010