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Original poster

Made a mistake at work, meeting has been put in with my manager

92 replies

Anxioussss · 15/08/2024 18:00

An error in a document was found during an external review where two number values were written the wrong way around. I have responsibility for doing the internal review before it goes out externally and I missed this error. I was comparing it to the source document and somehow missed that the writer had changed the order that the numbers were written, so that the labels were now the wrong way around.

The senior manager has put in a meeting with me and my manager for Monday to discuss it. I'm feeling really anxious and upset, and worried that I'm going to get fired or a written warning or something. I have a good eye for detail and do my best and I feel awful about this.

Does anyone have any advice? I've never had a meeting like this, and have only been in the job a few months. I had a similar job before but mistakes/errors weren't treated like this.

OP posts:
Madamecholetsbonnet · 15/08/2024 18:36

Agree with PP

Do you have a trade union rep? If it’s a formal meeting you will have right to be accompanied

Mabelface · 15/08/2024 18:32

You own it. You take full responsibility and go to the meeting with a solution to prevent it happening again. Your manager will want to know the how and why, what you're going to do to fix it and how you'll make sure it doesn't happen again and that you've learned from it.

GCAcademic · 15/08/2024 18:27

As others have said, own your mistake.

Explain that you know how it happened and state what you will do to try to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

Username75184 · 15/08/2024 18:21

Own it. You're human and we all get number blind.

WonderingWanda · 15/08/2024 18:20

You are human and people make mistakes. As others have said, apologise but of they try to make you feel shit remind them that humans make mistakes and suggest that a new protocol of 2 person checks be put in place moving forward.

HyggeTygge · 15/08/2024 18:20

Do you have a sibling you have wronged, who has access to an all-night photocopying centre? Wink

What are the actual consequences of the error? If serious, the checking numbers shouldn't have been done by eye - the processes need reviewing.

If the consequences are just embarrassment or a misunderstanding that can be resolved, then I wouldn't worry.

DarkForces · 15/08/2024 18:20

Own up
Apologise
Thank them for spotting
Suggest what could be changed in future.

Mistakes happen and if they expect perfection they'll never fill your role successfully. Work with them to implement changes and use it in future interviews

topcat2014 · 15/08/2024 18:18

Who has lost out because of this?
How can things be fixed?

Flossyts · 15/08/2024 18:15

I am an auditor. I think as a business you’d need to consider the controls in place to identify/prevent errors like this. The errors themselves are the symptom/result of the issue, rather than the issue itself.

A single, manual human quality check is a really poor control. There should be other protections and automatic validations in place. Presumably the way the document/spreadsheet is designed is not your responsibility?

ChrisS36 · 15/08/2024 18:15

Own your mistake. Do not deny it was made or attempt to blame others.

Positivenancy · 15/08/2024 18:12

Anxioussss · 15/08/2024 18:00

An error in a document was found during an external review where two number values were written the wrong way around. I have responsibility for doing the internal review before it goes out externally and I missed this error. I was comparing it to the source document and somehow missed that the writer had changed the order that the numbers were written, so that the labels were now the wrong way around.

The senior manager has put in a meeting with me and my manager for Monday to discuss it. I'm feeling really anxious and upset, and worried that I'm going to get fired or a written warning or something. I have a good eye for detail and do my best and I feel awful about this.

Does anyone have any advice? I've never had a meeting like this, and have only been in the job a few months. I had a similar job before but mistakes/errors weren't treated like this.

Were you the only person reviewing the document? Surely there was more than one of you reviewing?

AegonT · 15/08/2024 18:09

Mistakes happen. At my work mistakes often have huge safety implications and it important to us we have a "just culture" where we recognise humans are human, genuine mistakes happen and we learn from them without being unfair on individuals. It fosters an atmosphere where people voluntarily own up to errors and near misses are are treated well. What isn't tolerated is recklessness, deliberately cutting corners or not following procedures for personal gain etc. Your error sounds like it was a genuine human error that can be learned from and hopefully that is what this meeting is about.

keylimedog · 15/08/2024 18:06

Own up to the mistake, firstly. Then what's the impact of the mistake? Has someone lost money? Trust in the business? That sort of thing?

Can you think of any sort of system that can be put in place to catch out any sort of future error like this, is there a further check or review that's able to help reduce the chance of this recurring? If you go in a step ahead having clearly thought about how to change to improve going forward that's a positive point your way.

Clarinet1 · 15/08/2024 18:05

Before the meeting can you come up with a way to ensure similar things don’t happen in future? That way you can provide reassurance that you will be doing something pro-active, having obviously agreed that this was not the kind of standard of work that you should be producing.

StormingNorman · 15/08/2024 18:05

Transposing numbers is a really easy mistake to make. Rely on your performance record and remind them how often you do this without making mistakes.

You’re not AI, you’re not infallible.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 15/08/2024 18:03

Just own up and apologise

HollyGolightly4 · 15/08/2024 18:02

I think I'd own my mistake. Nothing is more irksome than someone trying to blame other people/external factors! Mistakes happen, so try not to worry.

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