I've lost the only key...

[Inrealtroublenow]

To the laptop cabinet in the office. All our laptops are stored in there. Feel sick at having to admit that to boss tomorrow. Looked everywhere in office/ home/ coat/ bag. I was the only one in yesterday and today so it's definitely me and not anyone else. Was told when I started (relatively recently) to protect key with my life because it's the only copy.

If you think you put it in a coat pocket or bag, check if the lining has holes in - sometimes things can fall through. If it's a coat, you can check around the bottom hem to see if it;s ended up threre somewhere.

@Ivchangedmynameforthis

This isn't very honest and I will probably get flamed HOWEVER. could you not just tell your boss you went to find the key and it wasn't on the hook. I would totally do this (sorry colleagues if I'm ever outed)

Thank God - not just me!

""I can't remember but must have locked my laptop away again before I went to the school because the cabinet is now locked."

Perhaps you can't remember because someone else did?

You are certain that you were the only one in?

Has someone else opened the cabinet and then forgotten to put the key back? Perhaps a colleague has it?

Not your fault that they're too thick to only have one key. That's just asking for trouble.

Why the hell would you get the sack for losing the key?! They can't sack you for that. Bit dramatic there @Inrealtroublenow!

Why the hell would you get the sack for losing the key?! confused They can't sack you for that. Bit dramatic there @Inrealtroublenow!

That is not strictly true, they could do, depending on the contract she has signed

@Peridot1

It sounds like a completely unsafe and bonkers system tbh.

Bonkers yes, not sure how it's unsafe?

I reckon another colleague used the cabinet after you and has mislaid the key. Even if it is you, there can surely be no way you’d get dismissed over this. Please try not to worry. It will be resolved tomorrow and you’ll be able to laugh about it in a few months.

Pick the lock.

Have you checked the office toilets? It could have fallen out of a pocket if you used them?

Did u drop it at the school when collecting ds?

I lost a key to a friend's office where I do some admin work. I got another key cut at my expense. Months later I had to tidy the boot of the car and somehow the original key had fallen off my keyring and was sitting in the spare tyre. Considering there was a cover over it I really don't know how it had got there.

Check your coat pockets, next to the kettle/ sink and toilets

What kind of cabinet is it, are you able to take a photo of the lock? Someone might be able to find a way to replace it

Hope you are ok op

Could you have put the key in
the dishwasher of your office has one?

Or if you had to rescue DS could it be in one of his pockets? Or one of his bags?

They were negligent to not get copies made when they were down to one key. Ridiculous.

Could you have put it in your purse?

I found a key in mine once!

Isn't it possible you went off in such a rush to get your DS that you didn't lock your laptop away, and someone else has come along and done that and taken the key with them?

I reckon this is the most likely option. DH was in a similar situation and his boss effectively locked up and took the key to teach him a lesson.

But also, this:
but what the actual fuck is the point in locking laptops in a cabinet to then leave the key on a hook in the same office?? 🤣🤣

@needmoreshinys

Why the hell would you get the sack for losing the key?! confused They can't sack you for that. Bit dramatic there @Inrealtroublenow!

That is not strictly true, they could do, depending on the contract she has signed

Oh come ON! No employment contract would have 'if I lose the cabinet key it will be instant dismissal' written into it. What a ludicrous thing to say.'

If the OP's employer was stupid enough to try sacking her for this, any tribunal in the land would side with the OP. I mean, they're obviously a bit thick to only have ONE key to the filing cabinet, but they can't be THAT thick that they'd attempt to sack her for this!

@mumshouse

They were negligent to not get copies made when they were down to one key. Ridiculous.

Exactly! Utterly ludicrous. Who the fuck has one key for ANYthing? That's just asking for trouble.

*Oh come ON! hmm No employment contract would have 'if I lose the cabinet key it will be instant dismissal' written into it. What a ludicrous thing to say.'

If the OP's employer was stupid enough to try sacking her for this, any tribunal in the land would side with the OP. I mean, they're obviously a bit thick to only have ONE key to the filing cabinet, but they can't be THAT thick that they'd attempt to sack her for this!*

Anyone with less than two years employment service can be sacked as long as it's not discriminatory.

Please don’t worry, @Inrealtroublenow - worst case, a locksmith can get into the cabinet and put in a new lock - and it’s hardly your fault that the management didn’t think to replace the lost key!

One thing I have heard of, that helps, is to say what you are looking for out loud - apparently it can trigger the memory of where it is.

In your make up bag? Outside where you got into or out of car? By kettle? In the lock?!

Check your coat pocket for holes in the lining. My handbag had a hole in the lining and I recovered all sorts of weird stuff from it.