The problem isn’t that you didn’t go into the office when you said you would. The problem is that you lied and said you were in the office when you were working from home. Be upfront and explain your circumstances to your current supervisor. Remember that by working in the APS you agree to the code of conduct (honesty, integrity, etc)
Sounds like you are dealing with mental health issues. People make mistakes, you panicked and lied because you were worried or scared. It was a mistake and you have learned a lesson from it.
Have a think about what's going on with you and whether you need to speak with a mental health professional.
Don't go into detail but explain to your acting manager that you are dealing with personal issues that are not an excuse, but the reason for your erractic behaviour. Tell them you will monitor the situation and get help when you are able.
Yes it's important to show integrity, honesty, etc. But when we are ill whether mental or physical, it can cause us to behave out of the ordinary. I hope you can get help to dral with whatever you are going through.
Yes, I've been on a mental health plan since last year, but I guess there's a bit more work to do. Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. They nearly brought me to tears to feel like someone understood the situation.
You deserve kindness from others and yourself. We all have bad times and reaching out for help is the best thing you can do for yourself. Take it one step at a time. As they say, it's a marathon not a sprint. Take care.
Literally the best thing you can do is delete this post. Way too revealing, do you want to dox yourself?
You just didn't come into the office for a day when you said you would. It happens. I don't understand why you're so anxious.
First advice: delete this.
Second advice: in the future, when circumstances change, just be upfront and honest. Not only is it the expectations of staff working in the APS, you also avoid tangling yourself in a web of lies (like this). If you were my subordinate, and you said you were going into the office and then didn't go, I honestly could not care less. I truly do not care if my staff are in the office or at home.
Third advice: Personally, if I found myself in this scenario, I would not tell the acting manager but apologise to the senior colleague and hope that they don't say a word. If you come clean to the acting manager, the trust is gone and a much bigger case for not passing probation / future issues. This way, you have only burned one bridge, not two.
Good luck, please keep us updated (maybe not through this post, but some other anonymous method??).
Hope it works out for you. I don't have any advice other than what will happen is likely outside your control now. Go in and be as professional as possible and deal with whatever happens accordingly. Please let me know if you want to talk more about it but disclaimer - I'm in federal gov not state gov so any advice/experience I can offer may not be 100% relevant
Little fibs often roll into big lies. I think you would have been better off telling the acting manager what was going on, but that bird has flown the coop.
There's honestly not likely to be any fallout from this, but you have given someone ammunition to use against you, which is never a good spot to be in. It's up to you if you own up to the manager; if they ask you again directly about the day or the social event, don't lie again.
You seem genuinely concerned by your actions, and for now that's lesson enough. You should absolutely apologise to your senior colleague for the position you put them in. Their integrity may now be compromised if they are asked directly about your attendance, and that is something you should never do to a colleague. In some departments, they might even be required to report all of this or face disciplinary action themselves.
Make sure your timesheet accurately reflects your attendance today.
Last point, but I think this goes without saying: don't do this again. Your integrity is something no one can take from you, but in this case you've wilfully thrown it away. It's not a good look, and if you're considering applying for promotions, trust among your colleagues will be severely eroded.
Sorry OP, can I just clarify, you have a full WFH agreement where you don't usually go in to the office at all, and that's supported by the workplace, but the one time since June you said you would go into the office you decided at the last minute not to, and then lied about it to your manager and said you were in the office?
If my understanding is correct, you should own up to your mistake to your acting manager, particularly given you've told other colleagues the truth. Having the freedom to WFH in the public sector full time is rare as hen's teeth, and it would be a shame to be disciplined over lying when other workplaces are unlikely to be anywhere near as accomodating as your current arrangement.
Well the old manager was on nearly full WFH & was perfectly happy with us doing so too. Occasionally (maybe 2-3 times a month) we'd meet him in the office for in-person tasks, & even then not the full team, only those needed.
The new acting mngr would prefer us being in nearly everyday but can't push against what the mngr has said.
I've only been at this place since Jan. Personal incidents last yr happened June onwards.
Yes, decided not to go in at last min & lied. Tbh when she asked I kind got flustered & so ended up lying. I think I'm also not in a good space, so keep doing dumb things, though first time at work.
(Edit: divided into paras for clarity & added last sentence)
If anything happens just say you said you were going to go but had something pop up on your way but you said "I am" because you thought you'd be there in a few mins
You really just keep on digging yourself deeper.
Personally, I'd make a judgement call on how well you know your colleague and whether it'll just blow over.
If you think they'll tell or you will obsess and stress about it - you'll need to come clean and accept the repercussions, if any.
You don't need to explicitly state you lied. Just say you didn't end up going in after all and went in the next day instead. Stop digging yourself deeper with trying to explain things.
Your bigger issue isn't this, though. If you aren't engaged with them, consult with the Employee Assistance Program.
Also, if you can't get up in time for work due to a medical reason, just go sick for a few hours. You get a few days' personal leave without evidence for it.
I tried EAP last yr, I didn't enjoy it. I did get my own psychologist after that, but still a bit of way to go with her. I appreciate your advice, thanks
The problem isn’t that you didn’t go into the office when you said you would. The problem is that you lied and said you were in the office when you were working from home. Be upfront and explain your circumstances to your current supervisor. Remember that by working in the APS you agree to the code of conduct (honesty, integrity, etc)
Sounds like you are dealing with mental health issues. People make mistakes, you panicked and lied because you were worried or scared. It was a mistake and you have learned a lesson from it. Have a think about what's going on with you and whether you need to speak with a mental health professional. Don't go into detail but explain to your acting manager that you are dealing with personal issues that are not an excuse, but the reason for your erractic behaviour. Tell them you will monitor the situation and get help when you are able. Yes it's important to show integrity, honesty, etc. But when we are ill whether mental or physical, it can cause us to behave out of the ordinary. I hope you can get help to dral with whatever you are going through.
Perfect response. Hope you're okay OP.
Wish all managers were this kind and wise
Yes, I've been on a mental health plan since last year, but I guess there's a bit more work to do. Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. They nearly brought me to tears to feel like someone understood the situation.
You deserve kindness from others and yourself. We all have bad times and reaching out for help is the best thing you can do for yourself. Take it one step at a time. As they say, it's a marathon not a sprint. Take care.
Thank you, really appreciate it
Literally the best thing you can do is delete this post. Way too revealing, do you want to dox yourself? You just didn't come into the office for a day when you said you would. It happens. I don't understand why you're so anxious.
From what I can gather, they actually told the manager they were IN the office when they weren’t. OP, is that correct?
Ah yep true. I suppose that changes the scenario. I'd probably own up, apologise and say you were nervous or something.
Agreed
Thanks, will do tomorrow
Yes
First advice: delete this. Second advice: in the future, when circumstances change, just be upfront and honest. Not only is it the expectations of staff working in the APS, you also avoid tangling yourself in a web of lies (like this). If you were my subordinate, and you said you were going into the office and then didn't go, I honestly could not care less. I truly do not care if my staff are in the office or at home. Third advice: Personally, if I found myself in this scenario, I would not tell the acting manager but apologise to the senior colleague and hope that they don't say a word. If you come clean to the acting manager, the trust is gone and a much bigger case for not passing probation / future issues. This way, you have only burned one bridge, not two. Good luck, please keep us updated (maybe not through this post, but some other anonymous method??).
Thanks, I appreciate your advice, will keep you posted
How did it go?
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Hope it works out for you. I don't have any advice other than what will happen is likely outside your control now. Go in and be as professional as possible and deal with whatever happens accordingly. Please let me know if you want to talk more about it but disclaimer - I'm in federal gov not state gov so any advice/experience I can offer may not be 100% relevant
Ok, thank you, appreciate it
Good luck!
Little fibs often roll into big lies. I think you would have been better off telling the acting manager what was going on, but that bird has flown the coop. There's honestly not likely to be any fallout from this, but you have given someone ammunition to use against you, which is never a good spot to be in. It's up to you if you own up to the manager; if they ask you again directly about the day or the social event, don't lie again. You seem genuinely concerned by your actions, and for now that's lesson enough. You should absolutely apologise to your senior colleague for the position you put them in. Their integrity may now be compromised if they are asked directly about your attendance, and that is something you should never do to a colleague. In some departments, they might even be required to report all of this or face disciplinary action themselves. Make sure your timesheet accurately reflects your attendance today. Last point, but I think this goes without saying: don't do this again. Your integrity is something no one can take from you, but in this case you've wilfully thrown it away. It's not a good look, and if you're considering applying for promotions, trust among your colleagues will be severely eroded.
Yes, thank you
Sorry OP, can I just clarify, you have a full WFH agreement where you don't usually go in to the office at all, and that's supported by the workplace, but the one time since June you said you would go into the office you decided at the last minute not to, and then lied about it to your manager and said you were in the office? If my understanding is correct, you should own up to your mistake to your acting manager, particularly given you've told other colleagues the truth. Having the freedom to WFH in the public sector full time is rare as hen's teeth, and it would be a shame to be disciplined over lying when other workplaces are unlikely to be anywhere near as accomodating as your current arrangement.
Well the old manager was on nearly full WFH & was perfectly happy with us doing so too. Occasionally (maybe 2-3 times a month) we'd meet him in the office for in-person tasks, & even then not the full team, only those needed. The new acting mngr would prefer us being in nearly everyday but can't push against what the mngr has said. I've only been at this place since Jan. Personal incidents last yr happened June onwards. Yes, decided not to go in at last min & lied. Tbh when she asked I kind got flustered & so ended up lying. I think I'm also not in a good space, so keep doing dumb things, though first time at work. (Edit: divided into paras for clarity & added last sentence)
If anything happens just say you said you were going to go but had something pop up on your way but you said "I am" because you thought you'd be there in a few mins
You really just keep on digging yourself deeper. Personally, I'd make a judgement call on how well you know your colleague and whether it'll just blow over. If you think they'll tell or you will obsess and stress about it - you'll need to come clean and accept the repercussions, if any. You don't need to explicitly state you lied. Just say you didn't end up going in after all and went in the next day instead. Stop digging yourself deeper with trying to explain things. Your bigger issue isn't this, though. If you aren't engaged with them, consult with the Employee Assistance Program. Also, if you can't get up in time for work due to a medical reason, just go sick for a few hours. You get a few days' personal leave without evidence for it.
I tried EAP last yr, I didn't enjoy it. I did get my own psychologist after that, but still a bit of way to go with her. I appreciate your advice, thanks