Julia is a 28-year-old office manager from Townsville who made a big mistake at her company's annual party. She got drunk, kissed her colleague, and yelled at her staff. Now, she's dealing with the aftermath of her actions and trying to regain the trust of her colleagues. In this interview, Julia opens up about what happened that night and how she's moving forward.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about what happened at the work party?
Julia: I got way drunk, and I don't even remember everything that happened. But I do remember making out with my workmate, which was a huge mistake. I also yelled at some of the team, which was completely unacceptable.
Interviewer: How did you feel when you realised what had happened?
Julia: I was mortified. I couldn't believe that I had acted so recklessly, especially in front of my colleagues. I felt like I had let everyone down.
Interviewer: How did your colleagues react?
Julia: Some of them were way angry with me, and I don't blame them. I had acted inappropriately, and it was completely unprofessional. Others were more sympathetic and just wanted to make sure that I was okay.
Interviewer: What have you done since then to try to make things right?
Julia: I've apologised to everyone who was at the party, including my boss and the people I work with. I've also cut back on my drinking and started going to therapy to work through some of my issues.
Interviewer: Do you think you'll be able to regain the trust of your colleagues?
Julia: I hope so. I know that I made a mistake, but I'm doing everything I can to make things right. It's going to take time, but I'm willing to do the work to regain their trust.
Interviewer: So Julia, you mentioned feeling a lot of guilt and embarrassment after the incident. Can you tell me more about that?
Julia: Yes, I just felt so ashamed of myself. I've always prided myself on being a professional and hardworking employee, but that night I completely let myself down. And the fact that I made out with my work mate in front of everyone just made me feel even more embarrassed. I didn't know how I was going to face my colleagues at work the next day.
Interviewer: How did you end up dealing with the aftermath of the party?
Julia: Well, I knew I had to face the music and apologise to my colleagues. So the next day at work, I took responsibility for my actions and apologised to everyone who was there. I also had a one-on-one conversation with my work mate and made it clear that what happened between us was a mistake and would never happen again.
Interviewer: How has this experience affected your job and your relationships with your colleagues?
Julia: I think it's definitely affected my job in a negative way. I've lost a lot of the respect and trust that I had built up with my colleagues over the years, and I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to fully regain that. As for my relationships with my colleagues, things are still a bit awkward between us. Some people have been understanding and forgiving, while others have been more judgmental and unforgiving.
Interviewer: Do you have any advice for anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation?
Julia: Don't make the same mistake I did. It's not worth it. Drinking too much at a work party can have serious consequences, both personally and professionally. If you do make a mistake, own up to it and take responsibility. And most importantly, learn from your mistakes and don't repeat them.
Everyone makes mistakes. The key is to take responsibility for your actions and try to make things right as best you can. And it's also important to remember that you don't have to go through something like this alone. Talk to someone you trust, like a friend or a therapist, and lean on them for support.
* Names and photos have been changed to protect the interviewee's anonymity where requested.