Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
margarine17 · 02/05/2023 00:48

I'd be ransacking my dc's room.

Tigertigertigertiger · 02/05/2023 00:53

Someone once said Most lost things are within 18 inches of where they should be.

BreakingPointAgain · 02/05/2023 00:55

Did you pick up euros and use passport as proof of ID, it could be with the money?

Pallisers · 02/05/2023 01:08

Take a deep breath and do a focused search of EVERYWHERE again - work, car, home. it sucks but live and learn.

you didn't kill anyone or even sabotage anything major - just yourself. I worked in a company where a resident engineer signed off on a change order (without going through the proper channels) which resulted in major flooding of a city.

BashfulClam · 02/05/2023 01:10

One of my colleagues turned up at the airport minus her handbag…the handbag which had her purse and passport in it. Work had booked the taxi to the airport. She rushed back home but missed the flight and came later, we were newbies and I was so glad it wasn’t me who made the first fuck up!

BlackeyedSusan · 02/05/2023 01:13

On the route from entry door to kids room. Walk it through and look everywhere.

BlackeyedSusan · 02/05/2023 01:16

On top of washing machine or dryer. Or elsewhere in the laundry room or in the lining of the dirty laundry hamper.

BlackeyedSusan · 02/05/2023 01:17

Down the side of the fridge/freezer. Under kitchen kickboards?

BlackeyedSusan · 02/05/2023 01:19

In the bathroom on a windowsill.
Near the loo.
Bog roll cupboard/packet.
Magazine rack

Blondewithredlips · 02/05/2023 01:37

Can you phone security at work and ask them to search your desk?

Elderflower14 · 02/05/2023 03:32

Have you got voting on Thursday? Did you put it somewhere for that???

Dustyblue · 02/05/2023 04:10

Arrgh OP, I can imagine how gutted & anxious you must feel!

But honestly, it's not that bad. I used to organise o/s travel for big companies and this happened A LOT. No-one thought badly about the poor person whose passport was lost/expired etc. Your reputation isn't at stake over this!

It still sucks though, I felt sick reading your OP! X

haXXor · 02/05/2023 04:31

Bookworms88 · 01/05/2023 23:01

@haXXor does it matter to you?

My point is that, unless you have been to the OP's house and seen the OP's passport, you can't know where it is.

EliflurtleTripanInfinite · 02/05/2023 04:35

Stupidworkgirl · 01/05/2023 23:37

I think I’m still in shock over this as it doesn’t even feel quite real, sort of feel drunk in a way.
I’ll be going into the office tomorrow and have to face the rest of my colleagues who aren’t on the trip, dreading it but at least it will get it over with. I know there are worse fuck ups and this is probably quite low down in the rankings but it is definitely my worst one. It doesn’t help that I’ve only been with the company 1.5 years and worked my way up quite quickly, yet have experienced imposter syndrome and the feeling that they have misunderstood my ability somehow and will realise soon that I’m actually not that great. This moment plays into that paranoia.

This is all the more reason to not resign. Facing it shows yourself this isn't true. They wouldn't promote you if they didn't value you and feel your contribution was worth that. The imposter is those thoughts in your head, not you in your job.

Nandocushion · 02/05/2023 05:08

CornishTiger · 01/05/2023 22:25

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

When I "lost" my passport it was indeed stuck well inside a hardcover book I'd had in my luggage on a visit home. Found it 3 weeks later long after I'd paid for an expedited replacement. Mother has never failed to mention it in my 23 years of travelling since. 🙄Open all your books OP.

THisbackwithavengeance · 02/05/2023 05:50

MicrowaveRice · 01/05/2023 22:23

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

So do I. Or "will it matter in a 100 years time"?

THisbackwithavengeance · 02/05/2023 05:56

How long is the trip away?

You could make an emergency passport application for a same day passport, nip up to Durham and then fly out later.

But it will cost you £££ obvs unless your company would pay?

KitKatLove · 02/05/2023 05:59

It’s worth looking in the last place you would think. We lost the tv remote once, turned the house upside down, bought a new one and six months later I discovered it inside an ankle boot that it had somehow fallen into, I’d put them away and only when I went to wear them again found out that was where it had been the whole time.

slimeandfearmetro · 02/05/2023 06:11

application for a same day passport, nip up to Durham

One does not simply walk into Mordor nip up to Durham. Not all of the trains that pass through the station actually stop there, so make sure that your train does before you board it. If you drive, use the park and ride because both the traffic on the roads in and the parking are shocking.

Friendlybreadbin · 02/05/2023 06:12

So, I was going on a work trip some years ago and turned up at Heathrow only to find out that in my bleary eyed 4 am state I had grabbed my son’s passport, not mine. So had to go home again with my tail between my legs and do the meeting by TC. Could have been worse, it was only a flight to Europe. I was then told that the CEO had once missed a flight to the States as he had forgotten his passport. Didn’t hurt his career progression! And nothing bad happened as a result of my mistake either. It’s embarrassing but not the end of the world.

Comfortingpigeon · 02/05/2023 06:18

Can you imagine any of the higher ups letting this set them back for a hot second? No. They'd have a jolly larf about it and carry on regardless. Your imposter syndrome is back OP...

That said, re check the bags you think you've checked!

Dustyblue · 02/05/2023 06:21

Comfortingpigeon · 02/05/2023 06:18

Can you imagine any of the higher ups letting this set them back for a hot second? No. They'd have a jolly larf about it and carry on regardless. Your imposter syndrome is back OP...

That said, re check the bags you think you've checked!

^THIS^

You are bang on, that's exactly what they do. I've seen them do it!

Cailin66 · 02/05/2023 06:21

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.

Did you have a different handbag then. Or did you have a winter coat that is now stored away.

Besthaveanamechange · 02/05/2023 06:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

electricmoccasins · 02/05/2023 06:47

Flowertight · 02/05/2023 00:15

I think I’m still in shock over this as it doesn’t even feel quite real, sort of feel drunk in a way

yet you felt you should immediately make a MN post AND ask for others’ stories. That’s cool

Unnecessary and nasty.

OP - I hope you got some sleep. You'll laugh about this one day soon. Take care