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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:
SkaneTos · 03/05/2023 23:33

Susieblue18 · 03/05/2023 23:23

I’ve not read all the thread but have you called the airport you last travelled from in case it’s in lost property?

I think OP did that, with no luck. And that the passport is cancelled now.

newtoallthisshizzle · 03/05/2023 23:52

We found my partner’s passport in a wine bottle size box that was destined to be thrown out and was in a pile in a lockup we had hired. It was out last ditch attempt to find the damn thing before biting the bullet and reporting it lost. DP picked up the box and threw it across the floor where miraculously the passport fell out. God only knows why it was in there or how it had got wedged but find it we did, thankfully.

I definitely wouldn’t resign over this. In fact if you did, you’d be remembered more for the drama of resigning than for losing your passport. You’d forever be the “OMG remember that girl who resigned cos she lost her passport?”.

These things happen and you definitely are not the first person to have booked a trip only to find you can’t actually find your passport. Do let us know if it turns up though….

Ineke · 04/05/2023 04:05

Did you get it out and put with ballot paper to vote today?

Ineke · 04/05/2023 04:16

And who knows but maybe it was meant to be that you were not meant to go on that trip.

Theyoungestone · 04/05/2023 04:57

Try the hidden pockets of all your travel luggage, especially the ones which lie very flat usually on the front or back.

Bamboozleme · 04/05/2023 05:37

Theyoungestone · 04/05/2023 04:57

Try the hidden pockets of all your travel luggage, especially the ones which lie very flat usually on the front or back.

24 pages in…

joey197860 · 04/05/2023 06:29

I think you are completely overreacting. This can happen to anybody.
Stay cool. It will pass.

Seagull97 · 04/05/2023 07:02

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.

My brother did exactly this. Important works do. Finds out he lost his passsport and was hysterical- doesn’t go on works do and worries for weeks about his credit report, put all his credit on lockdown and applied for a new passport whilst informing everyone he can think of. Goes to use his home printer/scanner and there it is. Now if he loses anything we always tell him to check the printer…

AlBG · 04/05/2023 07:33

Use the 5 year rule - will you care about this in 5 years time? No, at most it’ll be an embarrassing/funny story. Deep breaths , it sucks but not for long, it’s a work trip not yours or a loved ones health etc.

SnozPoz · 04/05/2023 07:41

Wow you are being ridiculously hard on yourself. You're clearly a high achiever and have absolutely earned the right to be in the position you are in. So stop the imposter syndrome right now. You are a valued member of your team. Take a deep breath and remember no one else cares. You haven't done harm to the company, you've organised a good work trip, which is still going ahead and your colleagues are probably all feeling quite sympathetic and relieved it's not them that's lost their passport.
There's nothing you can do except remain calm and professional. It sounds like you're in the same business as my husband runs and seriously the number of fuck ups he deals with all the time from his staff... this doesn't even come close. He's even had to bail someone out of a police station. Put this down to experience, cancel your flight/hotel room. Be on call to deal with any problems that might arise during their trip. Order another passport. Have a large glass of wine. It's really not the problem you think it is.

Bamboozleme · 04/05/2023 08:21

AlBG · 04/05/2023 07:33

Use the 5 year rule - will you care about this in 5 years time? No, at most it’ll be an embarrassing/funny story. Deep breaths , it sucks but not for long, it’s a work trip not yours or a loved ones health etc.

5 “years” is that a typo?!!!
in my family we day “9 day wonder”

5 years is bloody depressing!! 😂

xmaswiththeinlaws · 04/05/2023 09:40

I am a pro when it comes to losing things. On holiday in France I spent 2 hours looking for my phone which was on silent, I checked the whole villa and my handbag at least 20 times, but it turned up in a pocket of my handbag. It is a good idea to get someone else to check as well, sometimes panic takes over and we just can't see for looking. It really helps to retrace your steps. I am constantly checking my passport before trips as I get quite paranoid about it. Is it possible yours has been stolen?

dante88 · 04/05/2023 10:02

Try and remember that this f*ck up is far more important to you than to anyone else. It's not great and you feel awful but honestly, how much would you dwell on it if someone else in your team was in this situation. You don't need to look for another job, you are far more than this one oversight. You have learnt a lesson and are very unlikely to repeat this mistake! Let some water go under the bridge, the agony will fade, you will move on.

Beentheredonethatmanytimes · 04/05/2023 10:08

Please don’t consider resigning over something like this! You’ve done the prep work for a successful event. That’s what everyone will remember. Not the lost passport. These things happen - people understand. They really do. I say this from having been exactly in your shoes (truly - similar lost passport situation years ago) to now being a boss and seeing things like this happen to my team. If you’re good at your job - and it sounds like you are, then this is not something to worry about. My advice would be: apologise, sincerely - and then move on. Support the team from home, be available for questions / prep meetings / whatever they need remote help with. It will be something to laugh about in a week.

LoveLifeBeHappy · 04/05/2023 10:43

mumdebump · 03/05/2023 21:47

Emergency Travel Documents are only for people stuck without their passport outside the UK. You can’t get one if you’re in the UK.

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Other countries have passports on their phones - we're still behind. Digital is the way forward instead of carrying paper documents around.

WinterofOurDiscountTentz · 04/05/2023 11:08

LoveLifeBeHappy · 04/05/2023 10:43

Other countries have passports on their phones - we're still behind. Digital is the way forward instead of carrying paper documents around.

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Which countries have passports on their phones?

Finland is planning a trial of a digital passport but as far as I am aware no country has introduced one. And there are no international agreements for any other countries to accept them, which would obvioulsly be neccessary.

I work in this area and would love to know if you have more information than IK currently have.

Bamboozleme · 04/05/2023 11:30

LoveLifeBeHappy · 04/05/2023 10:43

Other countries have passports on their phones - we're still behind. Digital is the way forward instead of carrying paper documents around.

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What countries?

LoveLifeBeHappy · 04/05/2023 11:31

WinterofOurDiscountTentz · 04/05/2023 11:08

Which countries have passports on their phones?

Finland is planning a trial of a digital passport but as far as I am aware no country has introduced one. And there are no international agreements for any other countries to accept them, which would obvioulsly be neccessary.

I work in this area and would love to know if you have more information than IK currently have.

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The USA definitely has because I've used it.

WinterofOurDiscountTentz · 04/05/2023 11:37

Australia planned a trial seevral years ago, it never happened. I can't find anything to suggest any country even has a workable idea for a digital passport.

On further looking, it doesn't appear the Finnish project happened, and the fnding date has passed.

I can't see digital passports happening for a very long time.

WinterofOurDiscountTentz · 04/05/2023 11:40

LoveLifeBeHappy · 04/05/2023 11:31

The USA definitely has because I've used it.

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The USA does not have a digital passport!

You might be confusing it with MPC (mobile passport control), which also requires a physical passport as well. The mobile app is to reduce inspection times, but it in no way replaces a physical passport.

CrazyLadie · 04/05/2023 13:09

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.

This!! It's nit that ya made a mistake that will have a lasting effect, its how ya dela with the aftermath that really counts

CrazyLadie · 04/05/2023 13:11

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..

One of my fav saying is other people opinions of you are none of your business

Bamboozleme · 04/05/2023 16:03

CrazyLadie · 04/05/2023 13:11

One of my fav saying is other people opinions of you are none of your business

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Doesn’t really apply to one’s relationship with colleagues and especially boss!

Gingerwarthog · 04/05/2023 17:08

Could it be in your DD's room as you checked on her when you came back?
In a handbag or zipped up coat pocket?

Suziequoo · 04/05/2023 17:57

So it’s lost or stolen
im not telling anyone to lie
idiot