A 25-year-old corporate employee from India shared his concern on Reddit after noticing that a trainee he was mentoring faced difficulties under a strict manager. The trainee, who joined the team four months ago, has been improving steadily but often faced public criticism and frustration from her manager.
The mentor highlighted that she “puts in effort, asks questions, and tries to get better.” He also revealed that the manager frequently points out mistakes publicly, becomes easily frustrated, and sometimes says, “If you can’t do the work, say upfront. We need clarity.” He added that the trainee is very sensitive, struggles to speak up, and even expressed worry about resigning, telling him, “If things get worse, I might resign.”
Reddit Users Suggest Professional Approach for Mentorship
One user advised keeping discussions professional and focused on facts. “Just have a simple 1-1 with your manager. Keep it professional and stick to facts. Something like, ‘Hey, can we align on her exact responsibilities so we’re all on the same page?’ Ask if there’s an actual RnR doc for her. If not, get one made. Once things are written down, she can’t be blamed for stuff that isn’t hers. You don’t need to ‘defend’ her, just mention the progress she’s making and ask how you can support her better as the person training her. That keeps it neutral. And no, she’s not getting fired out of nowhere. If HR hasn’t stepped in, it’s not heading that way. Honestly, the best thing you can do for her is bring clarity, not protection. Get expectations documented and the noise usually drops. If she still chooses to leave later, at least she’ll know it wasn’t because she wasn’t good enough.”
Another user warned against overstepping boundaries, saying “I would stay away from being a savior unless one is immune and have authority.”
The Reddit thread sparked discussions about workplace mentorship, professional boundaries, and managing employees under strict supervision. Many users emphasized documenting responsibilities and maintaining clear communication to reduce conflict and give trainees confidence.
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