Asking Eric: My co-worker won't speak to me since my child caused an incident

"To gain some perspective, let's think how this situation would play out if you weren't an employee. Is the touch tank set up for children to interact with it safely without adult supervision? Is there a staff member assigned to the touch tank to protect the fish and the children? Is the aquarium a place where children who are left unattended, even temporarily, can move about freely without putting themselves, others, or the fish at risk?"

"It's likely that Tom's frustrations are rooted not only in his concern for the starfish, but also in an annoyance at a double standard. If you wouldn't tolerate this behavior from a patron, is it fair to ask Tom or the rest of your co-workers to tolerate it from you? That said, child care can be expensive and hard to find. I understand your solution."

"Recently, when I left my daughter by the touch tank while I spoke with some customers, she attempted to pick up a starfish and damaged one of its arms. When Tom noticed this, he yelled at her quite loudly and made her cry, causing her to drop the starfish and injuring it further. He has since refused to speak with me and has sent several emails to our boss suggesting that I ought to be disciplined and my daughter banned."

The parent works at a small aquarium and sometimes leaves the youngest child by the touch tanks while working. The child attempted to pick up a starfish and damaged one of its arms. A coworker named Tom yelled at the child, causing further distress and additional injury to the starfish. Tom then refused to communicate and emailed management requesting discipline and a ban. The situation raises concerns about safety, inconsistent standards between patrons and staff, and the difficulty of arranging childcare. Moving forward, staff should clarify supervision policies, communicate plans with coworkers and managers, and prioritize both animal welfare and fair workplace treatment.

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