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Original poster

F*cked up massively - work related. Perspective needed

628 replies

Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 22:16

I have an important business trip abroad tomorrow which myself and several other colleagues are going on. It is a major event in our industry and we have been planning it for a while. I have done the majority of the planning and have enjoyed it and was excited to attend. Our company director is going along with my boss and several coworkers, one of which reports to me.

I have lost my passport. I only realised this at 4pm today when packing. I am meant to fly out on an early morning flight. We have a very tidy minimalist home and have searched everywhere, it is definitely not here. I last travelled a few months ago and can only think I dropped it somewhere between security and my car.

I have called my boss who has told the MD. My boss was understanding and kind about it, I don’t know what the MDs reaction was. I’m absolutely gutted. Missing out on the event is a horrible feeling but is actually the least of it, that will wear off once it is over at the end of this week. It is more the damage to my reputation and how people might think of me going forward. I’m honestly considering leaving and finding a new job, as I don’t know how I will mentally bounce back from it.

Looking for reassurance or perhaps any similar tales or fucking up at work.

OP posts:
PragmaticWench · 01/05/2023 22:18

Any chance you have scanned it and left it in the scanner? I'd sit VERY still, breathing slowly and visualise coming into your home and unpacking last time.

hoophoophooray · 01/05/2023 22:19

I signed some steel fabrication drawings as correct. This is back in the day when we were still using hand drawn layouts.

When the steel frame for a 2 storey 12 classroom block arrived on site, all of the first floor beams were 90mm too short to fit between the columns.

Like a giant meccano set that wouldn't fit together... I didn't quite pass out frok
hyperventilating but it was close. Cost a lot of thousands of pounds to fix...

LemonSwan · 01/05/2023 22:20

It’s not over until the fat lady sings. Bags and coats. Search every single bag and coat/ suitcase. Filing. Paper / document boxes. Have you found your partners? Has he travelled since. If so did he pick yours up and put it elsewhere? In which case where.

weekfour · 01/05/2023 22:21

Oh no. I bet you feel physically sick with stress.

I wouldn't hand my notice in just yet. It'll probably become something that you laugh about in years to come but I appreciate that youre nowhere near that yet. Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you deal with them that matters.

bellabelly · 01/05/2023 22:22

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Nobody at your work will be thinking as badly of you as you are doing at the moment. They WILL think badly of you if you resign over this! Please don't be too hard on yourself.

AMuser · 01/05/2023 22:22

Pray to St Anthony. Even if you’re not Catholic.

VioletPickles · 01/05/2023 22:22

Fallen down the back of drawers? Used for id and filed with bank stuff or similar??

BarryK3nt · 01/05/2023 22:23

I would try praying to St Anthony, I’ve only ever done it when absolutely desperate and it’s always worked.

Original poster
Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 22:23

We’ve really searched. We are very regimented about the house, we barely have anything in here or furniture even, it’s almost like no-one lives here! I’ve searched the bag and suitcase I took several times, I’ve searched the coat and clothing I travelled home in, searched my car, every drawer in the house and individually through each sheet of paper in the safe (where the passport should have been). I travelled with work last time so was on my own, so only had my own passport out.

I am almost certain it isn’t here, we’ve given up searching now as I know we would have found it by now.

OP posts:
MicrowaveRice · 01/05/2023 22:23

I always think 'at least nobody's died'...

YouveGotToGrooveIt · 01/05/2023 22:24

There's still time so keep looking!

However, I did the same once. Couldn't find my passport when it came to leaving for the airport for a work trip.

I cannot remover exactly when or where I was going - because the memories have faded due to their total lack of real importance.

This will just be a small story for you one day, too.

CornishTiger · 01/05/2023 22:24

It’s not that huge a fuck up in the grand scheme of things. This could happen to anyone really so don’t feel too bad.

CornishTiger · 01/05/2023 22:25

Did you take a book or magazine on last trip. Could it be in there.

Original poster
Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 22:25

MicrowaveRice · 01/05/2023 22:23

I always think 'at least nobody's died'...

I did think this, and also that there are worse things you can do at work. I’m just very hard on myself when it comes to work and am very cautious to not damage my reputation or give anyone any ammunition against me. Doesn’t help that the industry is male dominated and I’m a woman.

OP posts:
OhComeOn123 · 01/05/2023 22:25

🙏

Rosecoffeecup · 01/05/2023 22:26

Could it have fallen down the back of wherever its meant to be? Have you needed it for any visa documentation? Taken it in to work to be copied?

It will blow over, this can happen to anyone. I certainly wouldn't think less of a colleague for it.

Original poster
Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 22:27

@YouveGotToGrooveIt thats good to know that it hasn’t stuck with you, hopefully this will fade into insignificance for me too.

OP posts:
Paperbagsaremine · 01/05/2023 22:29

Get a grip woman, it's not even professional misconduct. People lose their passports all the time. Drop them in the airport. Forget to renew them. Take a family member's to the airport. Treat them so badly they aren't accepted. It's not the end of the world.

My tip (FWIW!) get a friend to RE-check all bags, suitcases, drawers and coats with you. I had a lost-passport panic once and after a stressed and bewildered hour, got someone to do this and guess what, it turned out my suitcase had one more section than I'd looked in.

And when you do get the passport sorted, put it in a cover, and attach a Tile/airtag/Samsung tag to it!

Original poster
Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 22:30

I don’t think it helps that I did really want to go, it would have been such a good opportunity for me to get to know particular people and better myself and my career. The event wasn’t going to change the world but it was important to my progress.
But i can get over that as it’s in my control and my problem. Whereas what other people think is completely out of my control. The colleague who is reporting to me was only just brought into my team from another dept, it just feels like such a bad first impression..

OP posts:
mumyes · 01/05/2023 22:30

Ok, so it's not great. But seriously, this shit does happen in life!

If you'd let it expire or something that'd be worse.

Breath deeply.

This is totally not worth resigning over.

SarahDippity · 01/05/2023 22:30

When I ‘lost’ mine, it was in the pocket of my winter coat. Which I had checked, but my childminder checked it again, took it out of the wardrobe, felt it carefully, and it was right at the bottom of a deep inside pocket which I never remember using. Have you a helpful friend who could look with new eyes in the morning?

violetscarlet · 01/05/2023 22:31

Similar happened to me. Found passport in a carrier bag with bits I'd bought in duty free and put aside for gifts.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2023 22:31

Pull out all your furniture and drawers and check behind and underneath.

Check the car - under seats, in the pockets, in the glove box, under all the mats.

Check every single bag and suitcase - all the pockets and in the linings in case there's damage. Also check all your coat pockets even if you think you've never worn those coats abroad.

Under the bed, in the junk drawer, behind radiators, in a child's' bed or toy box - in the spare room, in the kitchen cupboards...

MadEyeMoodysEye · 01/05/2023 22:31

One of our directors realised her passport had expired the day she was due to travel on business. She was mortified, but people were understanding and it very quickly blew over.
I know it feels like the end of the world right now but it isn't. Try and stay calm.