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Original poster

Huge Fuck up at Work

41 replies

Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 08:41

I am the assistant manager. A month ago, my boss relied on me to book her a seat in a course that's starting in October. To my mind, i filled the application and finished all the requested steps to reserve a seat.
Yesterday they sent us an email stating that the course is fully booked and no more seats are available for us. My boss got furious. He thought I had booked a seat already.

I called them, they told me that it seems there was one additional step that we hadn't done. After begging them for a seat, they told me to finish this step and they'll keep my boss on the waiting list in case someone cancels but won't promise anything.

Ofcourse, i told my boss that we fixed the mistake and we need to wait until next week to confirm the booking (Which might never happen in case no one cancels but she doesn't know that yet in the hope that the problem will miraculously get solved).

I am so stressed. I am afraid that she might fire me in case she didn't get in the course.

OP posts:
Happysunshineyellow · 03/08/2023 08:53

Oh so sorry, this is so stressful. Im closely involved in training courses and would say that we dont normally get dropouts until closer to the time. If you called me and asked I would never promise anything but I would confirm our average dropout rate and your place on the waitlist that will give you an indication.

Also, shouldn't admit this, but the squeaky wheel gets the oil. For some of training courses there is a legal hard and fast limit to the number of people who can attend. For our theory courses, if someone just won't let up but isn't horrible we will sometimes let them on for an easy life.

I will be honest that as a manager, the first mistake would be bad but its the lying afterwards that I would pick up formally. You've said it's fixed and it's not so alternatives and back up plans can't be considered. You either need to guarantee a spot or come clean today.

Is there an alternative course elsewhere in the country? An online version?

Summer2424 · 03/08/2023 08:54

Hi @Cindy1990 honestly don't stress about it. I know it feels crap at the moment but you're not alone, gosh i've seen loads of stuff in my 27 years of working. Like your boss hasn't ever made a mistake!
It'll be ok, don't worry x

AHugeTinyMistake · 03/08/2023 08:55

Yeah the first mistake is annoying but the lie 😬

I would just badger them, every week, until they give you a space just to stop the phone calls 🤣

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:00

@Summer2424 Thank you for your words. @AHugeTinyMistake haha that's what I am doing. Omg i feel so needy and pathetic to them. I hope someone cancels very soon.

OP posts:
ChristmasKraken · 03/08/2023 09:08

Yeah, the big mistake you've made here is lying and saying its sorted when it isn't. If a place doesn't become available, you're going to get found out, and then you'll be in trouble for both failing to book the place and lying about fixing it. If I were you, I'd come clean now and explain that you've done everything the training company have asked, and they're hoping to get your boss a cancellation but they can't guarantee it. Explain what the mistake was that meant the place wasn't booked in the first place and what you will put in place to avoid that mistake being made again in the future (e.g. Following up any booking with a phone call to confirm the place is booked).

villamariavintrapp · 03/08/2023 09:12

Yeh I think the lying is the problem here, anyone can make a mistake, but how can your boss give you any responsibility when they know you'll lie to make yourself look better? If they keep you employed they'll have to do all important jobs themselves or check up on it themselves, because they won't be able to trust that you've done it, even if you say you have. I'd struggle to work with that.

Overthebow · 03/08/2023 09:15

The first mistake was forgivable but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be happy at all with you lying. Why did you think it would be best to do that? Own up to it now and come up with a new plan for the course.

Caprisunny · 03/08/2023 09:15

It wasn’t that bad right until you lied.

We all make mistakes and most can be moved on from.m. But the lying is the big issue.

If one of my team members messed up as a one off we would sort, see what we could do to stop it in future and move on. But the lying would be a massive concern.

kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:18

Well she should have booked it herself, your an assistant manager not admin staff, I'm a senior manager and I'd never expect someone to do that kind of personal admin for me unless I had an admin team, I'd never ask one of my junior managers. And I sure as heck wouldn't get mad.

Anyway that's probably not helpful, you've done nothing wrong, genuine mistake, it'll be a lesson to her, just apologise and let her get over it.

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:18

So I guess ill wait until Monday and tell them the truth about it. Omg I wish the problem resolved itself before that day comes. The thing is that I was going through a divorce and wasn't in my right mind. Still, not an excuse. I will come clean on Monday.

OP posts:
kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:18

(But yes you need to be honest)

kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:19

*you're

Hoppinggreen · 03/08/2023 09:22

kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:18

Well she should have booked it herself, your an assistant manager not admin staff, I'm a senior manager and I'd never expect someone to do that kind of personal admin for me unless I had an admin team, I'd never ask one of my junior managers. And I sure as heck wouldn't get mad.

Anyway that's probably not helpful, you've done nothing wrong, genuine mistake, it'll be a lesson to her, just apologise and let her get over it.

It wasn’t personal admin it was a work thing.
And whether OP should have been asked or not isn’t the point - the point is she agreed to do it but made a mistake (fair enough) but has now lied about it.
Mistakes are part of life but lying generally makes it much worse, hopefully the gamble will pay off and nobody will find out

Deathbyfluffy · 03/08/2023 09:26

kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:18

Well she should have booked it herself, your an assistant manager not admin staff, I'm a senior manager and I'd never expect someone to do that kind of personal admin for me unless I had an admin team, I'd never ask one of my junior managers. And I sure as heck wouldn't get mad.

Anyway that's probably not helpful, you've done nothing wrong, genuine mistake, it'll be a lesson to her, just apologise and let her get over it.

They have done something wrong or they’d have a place on the course - plus they’ve lied about it too.
It’s unfortunate, but saying there’s been no mistake isn’t true.

OP, if you’re honest I’m sure you won’t get fired. This is just a fairly average mistake and it happens to us all.

Summerslimtime · 03/08/2023 09:27

I wouldn't wait, its too stressful and is messing manager around too. I would badger training company and tell boss that the Training company led you to believe the waiting list place was a dead cert (via a phone call so there is no proof), but it seems now that it isn't. Take it from there.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 03/08/2023 09:28

Honestly, I would fess up today.
"Hi, just to clarify the situation with the course. The provider has confirmed you are one thewait list for the course as it is over subscribed. It is likely that nearer the time there will be cancellations although this is not guaranteed. I will continue to check in with them to ensure that you are top of the list for a space. Alternatively, I can look for another suitable course for you."

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:30

@SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress @Summer2424 Yes very ideas ladies. I will try to be honest, and keep on working to get her the seat she wants.

OP posts:
Glarptip · 03/08/2023 09:34

Can you excuse your lying by now saying you read it wrong and it's worse than you thought?

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:38

@Glarptip I think of telling her that they called me from the Training company and told me that the situation is harder that they thought, however they are doing the best they can to book her a seat in the course

OP posts:
kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:43

It wasn’t personal admin it was a work thing.

It was professional personal admin, an assistant manager isn't a lackey, I don't think it's appropriate. In all my years managing, I would never ask a junior member of staff to do something like this unless it was an admin pool/private office.

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:45

@kikigen You really think so?

OP posts:
Cosycover · 03/08/2023 09:45

Don't wait till Monday. You know now so you should tell her now. Waiting will probably make her more annoyed.

kikigen · 03/08/2023 09:49

@Cindy1990 I really do, not that it overly helps you, but it's not as if you deleted a customer's file or sent money to the wrong place which would be an actual work problem, you were doing her a favour if you ask me, not a work task, and it's not the end of the world, you shouldn't be disciplined for that.

Although I do concede you must fess up asap, and if you're as spicy as me you'd tell her she could do it herself next time (DON'T actually do that!)

ThreeRingCircus · 03/08/2023 09:50

I will be honest that as a manager, the first mistake would be bad but its the lying afterwards that I would pick up formally.

So would I. The lying wouldn't get you sacked but it would get you a written warning at our workplace. You really need to fess up and explain the whole situation ASAP.

Mistakes happen, it's just life but lying is going to make it ten times worse. If you get found out there'll be a question mark with your manager wondering whether they can trust what you say. There's no point you stressing about it over the weekend anyway so I would just tell your manager the truth today.

Original poster
Cindy1990 · 03/08/2023 09:51

@kikigen You're right! Ofcourse I won't tell her that but I will come clean with her today and confess about it. Better do it today than Monday.

OP posts:
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