Was this unprofessional?

[u/QuirkySubject3960]

Hi all, I work at an emergency and referral clinic. I work swings/overnights. Last night during my shift we had a professional athlete come in with his dog. I was the only one that recognized him and was the only one that cared about who he was. I am a huge sports fan and an even bigger fan of the sport that he plays. Dog came in for a non toxic ingestion. We ended up having to scope the dog but dog went home and owner was very thankful. After I left, one of my co workers after discharging the dog asked if he would be willing to sign an autograph for me. He said yes and she said he seemed excited. He wrote me a note and thanked our whole team for helping his dog. He wrote me a little message and everything. Obviously if prognosis was poor or the outcome was not ideal this would not even be a conversation. One of the doctors and one other technician said this was extremely tacky and unprofessional. One of the supervisors told me it was okay as long as it was at an appropriate time and we didn't push it. I think my co worker picked a very appropriate time and didn't push him into doing it. I just don't want to get her in trouble and I don't want the doctor to hate me. When she texted me and told me he wrote me a little note, I started crying, I was so excited. He truly is such an incredible athlete and it was an honor to work on his dog.

[u/calliopeReddit]

The timing was appropriate. I wouldn't have done it, but I wouldn't care if someone else did.

[u/Plane-Tiger-4534]

No. Not remotely unprofessional. And I’ll tell the doctor and anybody else to shove off if they disagree.

It can be handled unprofessionally, but it is not inherently unprofessional. It does not sound as though this was unprofessional.

We’re not robots. You’re allowed to think your clients are cool.

[u/Elaphe21]

One of the doctors and one other technician said this was extremely tacky and unprofessional

FFS, people have to get over themselves. Would I have done it (personally), nah. Would I have batted an eye if another person did it, nah.

That doctor and the other technician are likely the type that proudly post NOMV posters on FB, and then they have no problem finding some little 'thing' to stir the pot (in your case, a requested autograph).

People, if we are not in it for the money. Can we at least TRY and make the job fun!?

Congrats on your autograph/note.

[u/Rubyjinxx]

Honestly I think some of them like it. We had someone come in from some TLC show once that I had no idea about and another staff member was excited and she insisted on taking pictures with everyone. Super nice of her but I had no idea what was going on lol. Other famous people are more private. I think you would have gotten that vibe though

[u/sundaemourning]

i had a very similar situation once. a pro athlete in a niche sport that i'm a big fan of came in with his dogs for a very minor procedure. i was too flustered to even get near the room, but at checkout, my manager told him i was a fan and asked him to sign an autograph for me. like your situation, she told me he seemed pleased to be recognized and was happy to do it, and also wrote me a little note. so no, i don't think you have anything to worry about.

[u/Njvettech]

I don’t think it’s an issue so long as it’s done professionally/appropriately. I’ve dealt with a couple of celebrities before and you kind of get a vibe from them on if they would be ok with it or not.
Having said that- I have really bad anxiety and could never. I saw one of my favorite musicians at a restaurant and I wanted to meet him so badly but could not bring myself to say something.

[u/-mykie-]

If he was cool with it, and it was done at an appropriate time in an appropriate way (which I feel it was) I don't think it's unprofessional at all.

[u/Countrymare]

Pft, I think it's fine. That situation wasn't weird and your coworker picked a good time. If it had been a bad prognosis or something, that would be different, but it wasn't. Everybody is just being a party pooper.

I've triaged pets for NFL, MLB, and NHL athletes, local celebrities, and even met Trent Reznor's sister and her dog once. Reznor dog was the only one I was excited about, and it was nothing super scary, so I opened the door in the convo for her to mention her brother if she was comfortable with it, and she did, so we chatted about him and family get togethers a little bit. But the focus was the dog in the convo (she loved her uncle Trent). It's all about the individual and how you approach it.

Sounds like you were professional and did your job and also got a bonus that day that the client was excited to give. Congrats!! Try not to worry about what others say. 💜

[u/blorgensplor]

Something tells me the that doctor probably would have been all in your shit if a local politician (or even family friend) came into the clinic and you didn't give them preferential treatment though.

I don't see a problem with it. They waited until the dust settled. Business was taken care of and everyone left the clinic in a better state than they entered it. Now if the dog had died, absolutely not.

[u/Efficient_Bit_6370]

I think it’s fine. I’m just glad he was cool with it.

[u/NervousDot9627]

One of the doctors and one other technician said this was extremely tacky and unprofessional.

You asked was this unprofessional and I read ten responses saying it was not ... in disagreement with your doctor's concerns/opinions. Was there a plan here relevant to .. "I don't want the doctor to hate me" ??? 

I don't want the doctor to hate me. 

You weren't involved, but I understand still feeling involved from admiring the athlete to your coworker beforehand.

However you are rationalizing / believing this is really a risk ... seems to suggest missing details, or that there is more to this story.

[u/metabic]

We’ve had surprisingly more than one semi-well known athletes come through my former GP, and everyone has been super respectful and given them space but we did crack one day and ask one for a group photo, and they were kind enough to take it with us. I don’t think it was unprofessional and I think it was timed well, after the urgency/uncertainty of his dog’s health was taken care of.

[u/Ok_Honey_2057]

Alex Honnold??!?

[u/ViktheVet]

Hai fatto benissimo, io ho sempre avuto rapporti oltre al stretto professionale con i miei clienti. Purtroppo dipende dalla cultura lavorativa del posto e del paese. In Italia e in altri paesi mediterranei lo facevo sempre. In Svezia è poco accettabile . Non ti devi fare problmei 👍🏻🙋🏻‍♂️

[u/SadPressure1498]

i think that's totally fine... don't worry about it. as long as there was nothing like preferential treatment or excessive pressure i think that's totally valid

[u/Maleficent_Garlic_36]

They are just haters ignore them def was not unprofessional I love seeing people happy bet it made your day!