You are in a team of three interns. One intern consistently stays late. What is the appropriate initial step?

You are in a team of three interns. One intern consistently stays late. What is the appropriate initial step?

• A. Ignore the issue
• B. Confront the intern in public
• C. Find time when both available to chat in private confidential manner, open mind and being non-judgemental
• D. Report the intern to HR immediately

Answer: (C)

Addressing a teammate who consistently stays late is best handled first with a private, confidential, non-judgmental conversation at a time when both of you can talk openly. This approach sets a respectful tone, shows you care about the team and patient care, and creates space to understand the underlying reasons—whether it’s workload, workflow inefficiencies, unclear expectations, or personal factors. By listening with an open mind, you can collaboratively explore practical solutions such as adjusting schedules, redistributing tasks, improving handovers, or arranging mentorship and support. It also helps clearly establish boundaries and expectations so the team can function sustainably. Talking in public can provoke defensiveness, embarrassment, and damage trust, making it harder to solve the issue. Ignoring it can lead to burnout, inequity, and risks to patient care. Escalating to HR right away is appropriate only for safety concerns or explicit policy violations, or if informal, private discussions fail to resolve the issue. The key is to start with a respectful, private chat to understand and address the situation together.

Addressing a teammate who consistently stays late is best handled first with a private, confidential, non-judgmental conversation at a time when both of you can talk openly. This approach sets a respectful tone, shows you care about the team and patient care, and creates space to understand the underlying reasons—whether it’s workload, workflow inefficiencies, unclear expectations, or personal factors. By listening with an open mind, you can collaboratively explore practical solutions such as adjusting schedules, redistributing tasks, improving handovers, or arranging mentorship and support. It also helps clearly establish boundaries and expectations so the team can function sustainably.

Talking in public can provoke defensiveness, embarrassment, and damage trust, making it harder to solve the issue. Ignoring it can lead to burnout, inequity, and risks to patient care. Escalating to HR right away is appropriate only for safety concerns or explicit policy violations, or if informal, private discussions fail to resolve the issue. The key is to start with a respectful, private chat to understand and address the situation together.