Awful mistake at work - totally panicking, please help

[triangles5]

I’ve made a dreadful mistake at work and am devastated. I’m in tears, feel very low and am having suicidal thoughts. I’ve been with the company for several years, adore my job, am hardworking and usually careful and diligent, but it was simply silly human error. I feel sick with fear as it’s going to cost the company a significant amount of money. I haven’t spoken or apologized to my managers yet as I was so upset and couldn’t face it. But they’re aware it has happened, we’re due to meet next week and it will obviously come up. I feel sick with fear that I’m going to be sacked. And if they don’t sack me (unlikely), they’ll never be able to rely on me again as it’ll always be in the back of their minds. I’m distraught and can’t think of anything else. I’ve let the company and worse, my kids (who rely on my income) down so badly. What can I possibly do from here?

All you can do is apologise - people make mistakes. If you have a good record of a few years they will trust you again.

Unless it’s misconduct - and it doesn’t sound like it, they can’t sack you and if you’re a good employee overall no reason they’d want to.

Don’t overdo the apologies as PPs say - be sincerely sorry. Say what you will do to avoid making the same mistake again, then leave it.

Wittering about not sleeping is of no practical use and is going to impress or interest them.

Think of it from their POV - they want to know you recognise it’s a mistake and you’ll avoid doing it again. They do not want to be bothered (brutally) with managing you having a meltdown.

If you do need MH support and want work to help then talk to HR.

Wondering if OP works at my work and is responsible for the chaos earlier this week 🤔

OMG OP. I know how devastated you feel. But honestly no one died! I made an error years ago that cost £30k. My boss made a mistake that cost £180k. And last week someone else fucked up to the tune of £60k. We are all really diligent, hard working, bright people. But we're human! The only way not to make mistakes is to not be a human being. And even then we all know computers balls things up, did you see the article about air traffic control last August bank holiday?
Take a deep breath and try to put it into perspective.

I’ve been there. The feeling when you realise is just awful.

Own it, apologise and think of steps to put in place to make sure it won’t happen again.

Mistakes are made, don’t worry x

I don't know why people say don't over apologise. I am a business owner and some times when employees make big mistakes and give me a quick sorry I think to myself that they don't have pride in getting things right, and therefore I can't trust them as much. However if that same person gave me a decent heartfelt apology with maybe some tears then I will go easy on them knowing they have already punished themselves and somehow I will have more trust that the mistake won't be repeated.
I would recommend apologising first thing on Monday and being honest about how torn up you are about it especially commenting that you know it will lose them money, don't shy away from it. If there is also any solution you can give to offer so that it is not repeated then that is even better.

Good luck

Op, I once spent 1.5 million on a software project that never came to fruition. I am still working for the same company and I'm now more senior.

Unless you've done something illegal you will be just fine.

↖️And that wasn't even an accident, that was entirely my decision.

Or for today's Sainsbury's & Argos outage! Even that's been fixed - and sacking the person who caused it wouldn't make it un-happened. I image they will have to buy everyone's coffee on Monday, though.

This is the kind of thing that seems like the end of the world when it happens but I promise you in a few years time it will seem so much smaller and insignificant when you look back.

Mistakes happen, and we are all human. If your bosses have any compassion, they'll give you some grace here.

Was it a single person who caused the Sainsburys thing - or a whole team? And was it even a person, or some kind of computer glitch that was nobody’s fault?

I remember in my first job in a bank, a young person made an error which meant a million pounds was transferred to where it shouldn't haven been (in 2003).

A few years later I knew a guy who installed Tv aerials and he accidentally cut a wire in the roof space of a block of flats that meant all the sprinklers went off, soaking everyone's homes and causing so much damage.

I've since worked in mental health and there have been situations where things have gone wrong and patients have unfortunately harmed themselves needing A&E admission. The carers involved felt tremendous guilt, even though they were only trying to help, and they could not predict this would happen.

These things are so bad, but even then - no-one died. I totally understand the suicidal feelings when something goes terribly wrong, but I promise you - it will be ok. Many many people have done much worse.

OP is it possible you are being much too harsh on yourself? We are all human and we all make mistakes. It sounds like 99% of the time, you do not make mistakes either, which is pretty impressive. It also sounds as though you are extremely conscientious, diligent, and perhaps give even a little bit too much of yourself to your work. They are lucky to have you.

Write down what you want to say in that meeting. Be sincerely apologetic, but not excessive, and be clear about what happened, how, and measures you will take to prevent it happening again. Practice saying it out loud, and visualize the meeting going really well.

I truly believe it will all be ok.

Is it a calculation error or saying the wrong thing to a customer or messing up a batch of a product? Can you give some broad clue without being outing?

OP, do you know if the problem has been fixed, or in the process of being rectified.
I'm just wondering if there is anyone you can find out from over the weekend which might help put your mind at ease a little.

I have been in a similar position a few years back. It's the worst feeling.
I managed to keep my job.
Everyone here has such good advice. It really is never as bad as you initially think.
I think most companies these days take care of their employees. It's very difficult to sack staff.
With the exception of the post office maybe.

You’re a human being and you made a mistake, I know it feels horrible now but by this time on Monday you will have had a chance to come clean and apologise. Come what may, it could be as bad as what you think, it might not be at all. As best as you can try not to get too overly stressed out about it (easier said than done) and please contact Samaritans if you are having suicidal thoughts. You don’t have to go through this alone. I hope you can find some comfort from the other comments and get a chance to relax ❤️ thinking of you xx

Dear OP, Please don't be so upset. You haven't done anything intentionally wrong and if your company doesn't have 4 eyes checks on processes that can lose money if a human error is made then they are at fault not you. You are the victim of their poor procedures and it sounds like you have been completely honest and not tried to hide things. We are all human and we all make mistakes. It's your intentions that matter. Please be kind to yourself.
I hope it all works out well.

If it's human error surely they will understand? And if the implications of this human error are large then surely this should have been procedures in place to prevent this from happening?

I sent £70,000,000 to the wrong place once. They managed to get it back but I've also caused us to have to pay out a few thousand in compliance errors too. The worst of the feeling will pass, I promise.

You need to say sorry for the mistake. Work out what went wrong and what steps you can put in place to make sure if does not happen again. This will go along way - showing remorse and learning.

OP

It depends on the mistake. If it was gross misconduct and/or negligence, you would have been fired on the spot. Clearly it was not that and that is why you are still there, so chin up

Therefore, try not to worry but I know that is easier said than done

Good luck op

Personally I world absolutely tell them how much you love the job and how awful you feel about it. As a manager I would feel much more sympathetic to someone who said that than someone who just said a brief sorry and then tried to brush it under the carpet.

If you're otherwise a good, enthusiastic and dedicated employee I imagine they won't want to lose you over one mistake.

I cost my company several thousand pounds in my first job. I was young, naive and made a rookie error- but it was still my mistake. The chairman got involved- but I didn't lose my job. I felt like an idiot and my friends from that job many years later still take the mick, but no-one died.
Please don't do anything silly. Mistakes do happen. You are literally human- I bet your boss is lucky to have such a devoted employee.

I just spoke to DH. He is a Financial COntroller & mentioned at Christmas a mistake from an employee (that he would love to see leave the company) - a person was overpaid to the tune of 2.5K (Accrued leave and allowances paid twice) - agreed to repay at €100 per week and gave notice 2 weeks later - making the € very difficult to retrieve. He could hardly remember it - water under a bridge. He just said 'we all make mistakes - you can't fire people for it, or you'd have noone working'. He has mentioned other mistakes in the past - again noone fired.
I think the view is human error is inevitable so the system should have the safeguards.

I can remember reading about a surgeon once amputated the wrong leg. That’s when you know it’s bad.

It’s a mistake and it will get sorted. They know you are a good honest person.

Your DC are the most important and precious things in your life.

Take care. 💐

Can you give brief context? In my line of work it genuinely is life and death. It’s still rare to lose your job if you’re honest and learn from your mistakes