First Impression, Last(ing) Impression

I’m walking through the reception area after my break and see a young woman looking completely lost. (Names have been changed).

Me: “Can I help you?”

Woman: “Oh yes, thank you! It’s my first day, and my phone won’t connect, so I can’t reach anyone and…”

Me: “Hey, it’s okay. Who are you supposed to be meeting?”

Woman: “Someone called Sandy [Last Name].”

Me: “Oh, yeah, I know her. Let me see if I can find her.”

Woman: “I was supposed to meet her at ten. I’ve been here a while.”

It’s 10:41. She has indeed been waiting a while!

I head to the break room and find Sandy, still sitting there chatting and eating cake.

Me: “Sandy, you have a visitor.”

Sandy: “Yeah, I know.” [continues eating]

Me: “She’s been waiting for some time, so…”

Sandy: “And I’m entitled to a break!”

She’s talking about a forty-five-minute morning break, not a fifteen-minute one. Typical Sandy, the rules only apply when they benefit her. She’s clearly not finishing that slab of cake anytime soon, so I take matters into my own hands.

I go back to reception, sign the new hire in, and take her directly to Sandy’s boss. I apologise on the woman’s behalf for being late but casually mention that she was actually on time—forty-five minutes ago.

Sandy later tries to report me, but nothing comes of it. She’s been giving me the silent treatment ever since, which is perfectly fine by me.

Apparently, she’s less upset about being caught and more furious that she’s now banned from doing new employee introductions. It turns out that making new staff feel unwanted by leaving them stranded in reception for nearly an hour isn’t quite the “warm welcome” management had in mind.