Don't break bad news at work

Mysterious_wife

I was at the radio station picking up concert tickets. The front desk woman was telling someone over the phone she has cancer. You can hear the other woman crying hysterically. The receptionist held her finger in the air motioning for me to hang on. I had no idea what to say or do. I felt bad asking for my prize

Kristinmo

Wait the receptionist has cancer or the person she's talking to does?

And yes, personal calls like that are not for work.

capinjen152

Oh man. Not a good time.

gogadgetgo

Not at work.  Not cool.  I'm sorry for the lady but come on.  Take your lunch or personal time for those phone calls.

Mysterious_wife

The receptionist has cancer.

I won tickets to the "Plain White T's" acoustic concert. It's called "little Black Dress Party." You have to go dressed in cocktail attire.

MrsRustyGriswold

That is totally unprofessional.  She should have taken time away if need be.

PugMum

I'll sit on the opposite side of the fence and say sometimes you cannot control the situation, even if you'd rather it take place "outside of work".

I received a call to my work phone 4 years ago. A cop, from the local police station. He said "I'm sorry, but I have some very bad news. Your father was found deceased"

 

Umm... ya... I couldn't control myself in my cubicle there. Did I feel bad for the 40 people surrounding me? Kinda. Was it my fault? Not really. I did make the call to my husband while in my cubicle right afterwards. I was stunned and didn't think about the people surrounding me.

Perhaps she just got the call and found out her test results? Maybe she didn't have anyone to cover her seat and was being the responsible person not to leave?

You never know someone's situation.

bugandbibs

Yikes, that sounds super awkward. Circumstances don't matter, it was inappropriate to be having that conversation at that time, in that environment.

Mysterious_wife

PugMum said:

I'll sit on the opposite side of the fence and say sometimes you cannot control the situation, even if you'd rather it take place "outside of work".

I received a call to my work phone 4 years ago. A cop, from the local police station. He said "I'm sorry, but I have some very bad news. Your father was found deceased"

 

Umm... ya... I couldn't control myself in my cubicle there. Did I feel bad for the 40 people surrounding me? Kinda. Was it my fault? Not really. I did make the call to my husband while in my cubicle right afterwards. I was stunned and didn't think about the people surrounding me.

Perhaps she just got the call and found out her test results? Maybe she didn't have anyone to cover her seat and was being the responsible person not to leave?

You never know someone's situation.

You got the call. You did not make the call. She made the call. Either way, I feel bad for the girl. THere is a time and a place. That was not it. 

Pepper6

I'd feel terrible for her, but also feel extremely awkward.  What do you say?  "I overheard you have cancer, I'm really sorry and hope you have successful treatments....can I please have my free tickets now?"

I stepped away from my desk to make my first OB appointment this morning, mostly because I'm not ready to tell people at work, but also because I sit in the front and I it would have been inappropriate to be making a personal call if the UPS guy came in or something.  Although I do have sympathy for her, when you have that kind of bad news, I doubt you are thinking very clearly about what's professional.