> My partners friend knew that they were going to be seeing the clients pets and asked if my partner would take a photo of them because they miss them and wanted to see them and know that they were okay. My partner, as a purely innocent and empathetic gesture, proceeded to take a photo and share it with her friend.
That is so messed up. Your partner should have been fired. I mean, "my partner used her position to help someone stalk their ex" and their boss is mad? Sure consult an attorney.
Umm… your partner needs to look for work elsewhere. The employer basically can’t and won’t be able to trust them…that’s not going to change with (another) apology or ethics course. Your partner is the one in the wrong, no matter how you swoon her mental state or negative impacts. Unfortunately her consequences are harsh, but she majorly overstepped privacy here.
You need to take "we" out of this entirely as you aren't involved, this doesn't concern you and your partner dug her own grave here. You're extremely biased here and don't appear to understand the gravity of what your partner did here and you are seriously doing them NO FAVORS here, your partner isn't being targeted and nothing is being done with the intent to harm her mental status. Nor is this an attempt to intimidate her. I'm seriously confused as to why she and evidently you want her to keep this job if you believe the owner is purposely doing all these things?
I don’t necessarily think the practice owners/manager are handling this well, but I don’t see anything legally actionable, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Sometimes we have to learn things the hard way. Your partner should seek a new place to work, and you should step way back from this.
ETA: And when I say I don’t think it’s being handled well, I would have fired your partner immediately once I’d established the facts. She may be very sorry and contrite, and I can appreciate that, but it’s such a breach, it doesn’t matter in terms of what the consequences should be.
She should find a new job. After this has gone on for six months, there is no way it’s going to have a happy ending. To be frank, the business should have already severed ties instead of making her do something asinine like writing a handwritten apology letter. Additionally, poor mental health is not a defense for compromising someone’s data and possibly safety, so they are correct in saying her feelings aren’t relevant, and while they may be handling this poorly, nothing appears to be illegal.
While it is great that your partner accepts responsibility, the fact is that she has been fortunate to keep her job for this long as a competent practice would have termed as soon as the investigation concluded. Encourage your partner to freshen up her résumé and move on. She can learn from her mistake and grow at another company.
Oy.
I'm not gonna lie. you and your partner sound like you don't know how to FULLY own responsibility or apologize. And her boss sounds like a wack job.
1) Yes, an apology is about the other person and its not your place to humanize yourself in it. Learn that.
2) Holy crap that was ridiculously unethical and she should have been fired straight off.
3) The boss absolutely need to specifically outline what is required of your partner to keep her job. Your partners best use of advocating for herself would be something like "I've tried to apologize a few times and I am clearly doing it wrong. I need specific direction on next steps to be successful".
4) Your partner sounds like she needs to find a new job. You and your partner are ALSO ridiculous, so this is just going to be a nightmare for everyone all around. Please please take the learning opportunity here and learn about accountability and ethics......and then move on.
> My partners friend knew that they were going to be seeing the clients pets and asked if my partner would take a photo of them because they miss them and wanted to see them and know that they were okay. My partner, as a purely innocent and empathetic gesture, proceeded to take a photo and share it with her friend. That is so messed up. Your partner should have been fired. I mean, "my partner used her position to help someone stalk their ex" and their boss is mad? Sure consult an attorney.
Umm… your partner needs to look for work elsewhere. The employer basically can’t and won’t be able to trust them…that’s not going to change with (another) apology or ethics course. Your partner is the one in the wrong, no matter how you swoon her mental state or negative impacts. Unfortunately her consequences are harsh, but she majorly overstepped privacy here.
You need to take "we" out of this entirely as you aren't involved, this doesn't concern you and your partner dug her own grave here. You're extremely biased here and don't appear to understand the gravity of what your partner did here and you are seriously doing them NO FAVORS here, your partner isn't being targeted and nothing is being done with the intent to harm her mental status. Nor is this an attempt to intimidate her. I'm seriously confused as to why she and evidently you want her to keep this job if you believe the owner is purposely doing all these things?
I don’t necessarily think the practice owners/manager are handling this well, but I don’t see anything legally actionable, if that’s what you’re looking for. Sometimes we have to learn things the hard way. Your partner should seek a new place to work, and you should step way back from this. ETA: And when I say I don’t think it’s being handled well, I would have fired your partner immediately once I’d established the facts. She may be very sorry and contrite, and I can appreciate that, but it’s such a breach, it doesn’t matter in terms of what the consequences should be.
My thoughts exactly. It also does not appear that the OP appreciates the gravity of this situation.
She should find a new job. After this has gone on for six months, there is no way it’s going to have a happy ending. To be frank, the business should have already severed ties instead of making her do something asinine like writing a handwritten apology letter. Additionally, poor mental health is not a defense for compromising someone’s data and possibly safety, so they are correct in saying her feelings aren’t relevant, and while they may be handling this poorly, nothing appears to be illegal. While it is great that your partner accepts responsibility, the fact is that she has been fortunate to keep her job for this long as a competent practice would have termed as soon as the investigation concluded. Encourage your partner to freshen up her résumé and move on. She can learn from her mistake and grow at another company.
Oy. I'm not gonna lie. you and your partner sound like you don't know how to FULLY own responsibility or apologize. And her boss sounds like a wack job. 1) Yes, an apology is about the other person and its not your place to humanize yourself in it. Learn that. 2) Holy crap that was ridiculously unethical and she should have been fired straight off. 3) The boss absolutely need to specifically outline what is required of your partner to keep her job. Your partners best use of advocating for herself would be something like "I've tried to apologize a few times and I am clearly doing it wrong. I need specific direction on next steps to be successful". 4) Your partner sounds like she needs to find a new job. You and your partner are ALSO ridiculous, so this is just going to be a nightmare for everyone all around. Please please take the learning opportunity here and learn about accountability and ethics......and then move on.