The beginning of a new friendship?

This was my first day of work as an actuary. I had just graduated from UQAM University a few months ago. I found it crazy how fast I got this job. As soon as I walked in the office, a rather handsome man came up to me and asked if I wanted him to be my instructor to help me learn the ropes. At that same moment, a group of girls, a mean girl group I’d say, also asked me if I wanted to hang with them to learn how it works around this firm.

Choice 1 : Go with the handsome man.

Choice 2 : Go with the mean girls.

Go with the handsome man.

I told the girls I would be the man’s trainee and I followed him to his office. He introduced himself to me, his name was Yanis. Yanis told me he was responsible for me and I had to go to him for any questions concerning my salary, any leave of absence and my vacations. Also, he showed me the ins-and outs of the firm. He mentioned that anyone who approaches the mean girls gets sucked in their office drama. He was a little too close to me while he was talking. He touched my hand and shoulder numerous times: I think he was flirting with me. Then, out of the blue he asked me if I wanted to eat dinner at his place after work. Was it a date? Could having dinner with him be considered professional misconduct, seeing as he was kind of my superior?

Choice 1 : Accept to go on a date even though it does not seem very professional.

Choice 2 : Kindly decline the offer and choose to stay professional colleagues.

Go with the mean girls.

It was better to have many girlfriends than one guy friend. I told the man I’d rather go with the girls. In the group, there was Sofia, Maissane, and Ruby. They were so happy I chose them. Sofia told me the man who spoke to me earlier was secretly a perpetrator and I made a good decision by declining his offer. A few moments later, Maissane told me, in private, that Sofia always did this. She withheld critical information on everyone and used it to hinder them whenever she felt like she had a lack of fulfillment. It was not fair and overtime, it was just going to undermine this firm’s hard work. Everyone was powerless against Sofia. However, I just go hired, it is impossible that she already got some dirt on me. Or is it?

Choice 1 : Confront Sofia.

Choice 2 : Not do anything about it.

Accept to go on a date even though it does not seem very professional.

It was only a date; it wasn’t like I was marrying the guy, so I said yes. After work, I went home to freshen up. Afterwards, I drove to Yanis’s house. His house was like a mansion. I knew actuaries were well-payed, but that is not what I was expecting. I knocked on the door. Yanis opened it and welcomed me with open arms. I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea anymore. During our meal, we talked about everything. Our plans for the future, our retirement plan, how we wanted our marriage to be, etc. Then, he mentioned something about a bribe. Yanis had clients who bribe him into changing their insurance plan. These clients were his assets. He even stole some money from the company once but changed the numbers so it wouldn’t show. Yanis was corrupted. By confessing to me, he put me in a difficult situation. Was I supposed to keep this to myself? It was an important matter that had a direct effect on the company.

Choice 1 : Tell the boss about the corruption.

Choice 2 : Keep the corruption story to yourself.

Kindly decline the offer and choose to stay professional colleagues.

I politely declined the offer. He got very mad and left. The next day, I was in my cubicle working on a client’s asset share when Yanis came and looked at my work. He just sighed and left. His reaction kind of deterred me. Later I saw him staring at me from another employee’s cubicle. He started to scare me a little. After work, he sent me a text saying I looked beautiful today. I didn’t reply. The next day, I had a meeting with him. Just the thought of being alone in his office with him filled me with dread. He was sexually harassing me. Should I tell someone? Maybe they’ll think I’m crazy?

Choice 1 : Tell the boss.

Choice 2 : Not tell anyone.

Confront Sofia.

I thought to myself I had to abolish this maddening misconduct. I went up to her and said that her childish games had to stop. I also told her if she didn’t stop, I would contact Human Resources and get her fired from her associate position. She started crying and ran in the bathroom. All of the other employees were looking at me from their cubicles, wondering what could a newbie like me have said that was so awful. Maybe, I was too harsh. Should I follow Sofia and apologize?

Choice 1 : Apologize.

Choice 2 : Let her go.

Not do anything about it.

I was new and wasn’t even sure if what Maissane said was true. I kept quiet and followed the girls around. The next day, I saw the handsome man cleaning up his desk. Apparently he got fired for sexual harassment. Sofia told the boss that she was being sexually harassed at the office. I was always with Sofia and I could confirm, that this wasn't true. The handsome man was fired. I could have done something to prevent this, like confronting Sofia. As time passed, more and more people were getting fired because of Sofia's lies. I was probably next. She had time to dig up some dirt on me. I should have confronted her when I had the chance, on my first day.

Write a choice here.

Tell the boss about the corruption.

I had to tell the boss, this was my new home’s money we were talking about. I had no choice but to tell on him, or else he would keep doing it. The next day, I went to the boss’s office and told him everything. He was shocked and didn’t believe me at first, but after consulting his assistant, he finally believed me. As I went back to my cubicle, I saw Yanis packing up his office stuff in a box. Later, the boss came to see me and personally congratulated me on my new promotion. I did not know what he was talking about. He laughed and told me I was taking Yanis’s place in the company. Who knew being honest could be rewarding!

Write a choice here.

Keep the corruption story to yourself.

It was safer for everyone to not say anything. Besides, I was still new and didn’t want to stir up drama on my second day. My second day was the day I was meeting with the boss. I was pretty stressed out since he had the control to hire and fire me. I had to be in his office by noon. When the time came, I went to his office and waited. A few moments later, he finally came, but so did Yanis. Yanis looked angry. Once everyone sat down the boss told me he received an anonymous letter exposing Yanis’s crimes. I wasn’t the one who sent it, but Yanis didn’t know that. The boss said he had no choice but to tell the police about Yanis’s actions. Then, he turned to me and asked me if I knew about this. I nodded. He told me I was fired, then left, leaving me and Yanis in his office, alone.

Write a choice here.

Apologize.

I followed Sofia to the bathroom and apologized. I told her it wasn't my place to say those things and that I regret doing it. She forgave me. One day, I was walking towards my cubicle when everyone was staring at me. I thought I had something between my teeth or something. When I arrived in my cubicle, I saw that someone messed up my client’s insurance plan. That same client called earlier in the morning and fired us. Everyone thought it was my fault, but it wasn’t. As I was looking around, I saw Sofia talking with the girls and smiling at me. I knew it was her. Why did she do that? The boss convoked me in his office and told me to pack my things and leave. That client was the biggest client of the firm, and I messed it up by lashing out on Sofia, on my first day.

Write a choice here.

Let her go.

Since I had the courage to stand up to Sofia, other employees who were scared also stood up to her. We all went to the boss’s office and explained what has been going on for years at the firm. This resulted in Sofia getting fired. No one’s secret got out and everyone liked me for getting rid of her. The boss even gave me a promotion for my leadership and courage. My first day of work turned out to be the best one of my career.

Write a choice here.

Tell the boss.

I had to tell the boss, or else Yanis wouldn't stop. I couldn't take it anymore, so I built up the courage to go to the boss's office. I explained everything, from the date invitation to the stalking to the texts. The boss said he couldn't do anything because the only proof of harassment he had, was the text he sent me, and that was an outside of the office problem. He told me to call the police and that he'd be happy to testify against Yanis, since I'm not the first woman with this story on him. I called the police and filed a restraining order for Yanis. He ended up quitting his job and I never heard from him again.

Write a choice here.

Not tell anyone.

I couldn't tell someone, they would think I'm crazy. As time passed, Yanis kept harassing me day and night, at the office and when I was at home. He put me in awkward and uncomfortable situations until it drove me crazy. I ended up quitting my job and seeing a psychologist. I was jobless and traumatized.

Write a choice here.