Work Issue

LegacyUser

So I started a graduate job a few months ago, first real job. A few other graduates started with me and initially we all started on different sections of the same body of work, but when it came to officially sign off the sections it just so happened that I was the only graduate in that day (others were on holiday/sick). Anyway my boss said since the work was done it didn't really matter who signed it and I should just sign off everything, including the work not done by me, so it did. Now fast forward a few months when that work was sent out to clients it turns out there was huge mistakes in the sections I didn't do but had my signature on. Now Im getting in trouble from the higher ups and from the quality department for mistakes made by other people. An email was sent out by the quality dept to my whole team with a screenshot of a page with my name all over it of an example of "unacceptable mistakes" and I cannot let out that the work was not done by myself as it would mean we lied to the clients and the company would be in a lot of hot water over it.

This sort of carry on seems to be common place here, Im constantly asked to do things that are blatantly against both the companies internal rules and the industries regulations (I work in a highly regulated industry) I just feel worn down at the moment. I stated out here really happy with the company I am with and tried to contribute as much as I could and soak up all the knowledge I could but now I just want to keep my head down and hope no one askes me to do anything. Ive toyed with the idea of looking for work elsewhere but Ive only been here 6 months so far, its not going to look good on the CV to leave after such little time and besides the way in witch the company operates, I really enjoy the actual area of work and, without giving away the company, there are very few companies in Ireland who do this sort of work so if I did leave it would be next to impossible to get a job in the same area.

I know its rare for anyone to actually like their job, but I never thought I would feel this uncomfortable, am I just expecting too much from a 9 to 5?

iwantmydinner

Is there a good HR person you could explain the situation to?

LegacyUser

I know it's hard but don't take it personally, this is work and a work you like.Its best to rationalise and see how this happened and how to fix it so it wont happen again.I would ask two questions:
-why your name was there if it wasn't you.
-who did the work and tried to understand how/ why the mistake was done.

Take it from there to your direct manager if you feel it's something to be dealt with internally.But don't be afraid to speak up your concern, mind your words and be subtle about them if u feel it is a sensitive subject . As my personal experience showing integrity and professionalism always has worked my way. Some people might not have liked it but most of the time and in the long run is a pay off path.

Don't give up yet, it seems hard and you want to hide but such is the world and life sometimes.you are not alone and more people than you think might think/ feel the same as you do in your company.Dont be scared to be confrontational in a professional way. It's not because something has been done for years but still wrong that it makes it right. Sometimes it's just about doing the right thing and it is sometimes difficult.

Wanderer2010

Not a great situation to be in OP and I feel for you. This kind of thing does go on a lot on all jobs, kind of like blame the newbie or get the person who wont say no to do a job that nobody else would. Its sadly just a fact of working life and this tends to go away as you rise up the ranks and people take you a bit seriously. I used to think my first job was the worst and surely the next one would be ethical and follow all procedures inside and out but i found out everywhere was the same-people are people!

I would advise you to chalk this up to experience and the next time you are asked by a superior to sign something/do something you suspect will get back to you explain clearly that you would rather not because the last time you did your work was highlighted across the company as being full of errors even though you werent responsible for it, they may even respect you for being assertive. If its the kind of place that blames people then they may just back down and not ask again. If they still insist you sign things and wont take no for an answer, could you stick it for another 6 months then move on? A year is perfectly acceptable in a job and your development and mental health are more important. Good luck.

LegacyUser

Hey tanks for the replies everyone. Im afraid talking to someone in HR isnt really a great way to go as it would highlight that the companies procedures were not followed which would be essentially stabbing in the back the guy who Im relying on to train me in.

I was asked to fudge the rules again just before finishing up work today so Im going to talk to my boss tomorrow and explain while Im perfectly happy to carry out the work I would feel more comfortable going through the proper procedures and will gladly do all I can to speed the process along (I can see why theyre trying to cut corners where they can, our team is on an unusually short time frame relative to other teams in the company and I appreciate they are under pressure from up the ladder but at the end of the day if its something with my signature on it Im just going to have to let my point be heard)

LegacyUser

OP, you have to realise that signing your name to a document means you ARE taking responsibility for all that is in the document. You cannot abdicate your responsibilities. You can refuse to do it in the future but you are responsible for the mess that was the document.

Next time someone asks you to sign off, politely ask him/her to sign it as you do not know the sections you were not involved in. Such documents should only be signed by someone with common responsibility for all those who contributed to the document.

As for you fearing you will stab someone else in the back>? Well, it seems others have no problem with stabbing you in the back?

It's time for you to stand up and show what you are made of.

Big Bag of Chips

Have you spoken to the supervisor who asked you to sign it? I think it is one of those things that will blow over to be honest. And I'd imagine that most of the people have already forgotten it and moved on to the next work issue, while it is still playing on your mind.

As BananaRep12, rightly says - once you sign something you are accepting responsibility for it. That's lesson 1 learnt, anyway! Surely the bosses know that if an entire document/project had only one person signing off on it, which clearly had many contributors, then there's a likelihood that ALL the work wasn't done by that one person. But, unfortunately (and unwittingly) you took responsibility for it by signing off on it. Same way as if you were the financial controller and someone put a cheque in front of you which you signed without question.

You are a graduate. You are new to the job and the industry. You made a mistake. Do you think everyone else in the company has had a flawless, mistake free employment career? Even the bosses had to start somewhere! If you are approached by someone senior to you, you should explain the situation exactly as it happened. There's no need to blame anyone in a "he made me" type of way - but you can say that it just so happened on the day none of the others were in, and you were asked to sign it off instead. Tell them you now realise that the consequences of that. Like I said - you're new. You're expected to make mistakes. And a year down the line, someone else will be new and will make similar mistakes. (and 30 years down the line, you and your other colleagues will probably still be making the odd mistake too )

wallycharlo

I sympathise with your situation OP, and I can certainly see how you would have felt under pressure to sign, especially when your boss was advising you to.

You can take a positive from this though, from the lesson learned, i.e. do not sign off on someone else's work in the future unless you have full confidence in those whose work you are putting your name too. I know that this is very difficult at this stage of your career, as you are just getting to know your colleagues. But as time goes by you will certainly get a feeling for who you can trust, and who you cannot.

Selfheal

Very interesting post and dilemma.

Chalk it down to experience. If it ever happens again, don't be afraid to say "I'm uncomfortable with that or "I would prefer not to do x, y and z because...." You are ALWAYS perfectly entitled to do that and should not be bullied out of your own integrity.

In fact, speaking from the position of your own personal integrity, you actually become quite powerful (in the best possible sense) and will generate a lot more respect from others and from bosses.

Good learning and growth opportunity for you - at the end of the day this is what your job is really about.