WWYD? Fast responses needed!

[fizzysister]

I work for a smallish charity, which is really careful with its spend. I made a stupid mistake which will cost £70 to put right. I want to offer to pay this, my OH thinks I'm mad and there's no way they'd accept. I could also offer to work it off. What's the most professional course of action?

I would have to pay it back too. Either in money or time. Speak to them and see what they want you to do?

Thanks for the fast response. I am about to, just checking I'm not being an idiot to offer.

I think that you are right to offer.

Work hard to fix it and ensure it doesn't happen again but I think mistakes are something that happen and they have to accept that. I wouldn't expect to pay it back.

I would. Then you can move on, knowing you did the best thing.

I'd pay it too.

I think it depends on what the mistake and assuming you are not a volunteer. For example if you sold an item for £7 instead of £70 then I think the business sucks it up. If you gave someone the wrong change or took a fraudulent note then again I think business sucks it up. In fact I can't see a situation where you should be made to pay. You would be very gracious in offering to work extra hours to cover it but of course money is allocated and comes out of different pots. If they made you work for it the hours you pay back will go into salary budgets and not where the mistake originally came from anyway.

mistakes are something that happen and they have to accept that

Agree. The key word in your post is work. They may be small, but they should still be professional.

It's my job, but I'm spread so thinly I regularly work over my contracted hours and only log about 50/60% of the surplus. I have around 2 weeks of extra hours built up so it could easily be taken out of that.

The mistake was on a printed item that will cost that amount to replace.

Mistakes happen and business need to accept that. If it rose to the level of gross misconduct, then you will have to face that. You may still face a warning, or disciplinary if you've already got warnings etc. There are ways to deal with mistakes and they will follow procedure.

I don't think it will matter too much what pot it came from etc. I just feel so bad and want to help make amends.

Thanks for the advice all, have sent the email.