When you mess up at work and there is no way to make it better?

[BlastedPimples]

What do you do?

Just eat humble pie forever?

No but they could have told us our application had failed. We submitted it on 20th August. Not September. The board met and decided in first week of September.

@traybake81 no. That's not correct.

The secretary told me we could resubmit again for the next board meeting. The deadline is 30th October and board meets in the last week of November.

You absolutely MUST put aside even the tiniest thought that you can blame the foundation for this

They don’t owe applicants a thing

Seriously OP, it is concerning that you don’t get this

If you go in tomorrow and starting banding around the possibility the foundation should share blame, you will plummet in estimation

So?

What is the drama then?

You made out the error has cost you being considered for funding?

He? Where do I blame the board?

Someone thread said it was appalling. I merely queried that statement.

I think you might be making assumptions now. I've shown nothing but humility and accepted the blame throughout this thread.

i have not once mentioned the board

Because I didn't know that. And it is still a drama because it was a co-funding application that needed both parties to agree.

I can apparently resubmit as solo funding project. So I'm told.

ok so let me be clear

You are saying that you can re submit?

The board of the foundation.

ok so lots to discuss at your meeting tomorrow with the office, which is a good thing

but please don’t even hint that tou think the foundation somehow failed you for not telling you that you had incorrectly completely the form

It now has to be changed and will need another co funder that we have yet to find. All this will reduce our chances hugely. So it is still a major mess up because we had then shortlisted by the second funder.

My boss has explained all this now.

@traybake81 what are you talking about?

Why do you think I am going to blame the board?

OP
As i say, head held high, deeply apologetic and then “lots of discuss re next step”

but please… don’t mention anyone sharing blame

The board of the foundation. Where do you get that idea?

Again, where have I said at ever about sharing blame?

Strange.

good luck op

Thank you.

Own up.
An early confession is much better than a late catch up

Lots of advice here about owning up and apologising, which I know you're doing. I'd also add, once you've apologised, don't keep going over it in the hope that your bosses will placate you/say it doesn't matter etc. It's natural to want that, but it will just annoy people.

I think this thread takes the prize for people skim-reading and then hitting Reply before they've really understood the situation...

OP, I think most of us probably know the horrible feeling of having messed up at work. This was a clerical error, they're impossible to completely eradicate, and thankfully your boss seems very reasonable. I promise in a week's time it will feel much less raw, and in a month you'll hardly think about it.

I worked in the charity sector for many years but finally had enough December last year.

It's not like previous years, I can't remember the figures but the number of bid applications has gone through the roof. It's almost impossible to get funding now. And if you do get accepted it's likely not for the full amount you've asked for.

According to the Charity Commission almost 5,000 charities went under last year ,and suspect it will be much more this year.

Don't beat yourself up OP, it's an awful sector to work in at the moment. And even if you had filled it correctly, there's no guarantee you would have got it.

You'll feel much better next week. This too will pass.

Just keep applying for jobs.

@AppropriateAdult @MainStreetOrHighStreet yes. Great advice.

I am a bit puzzled on this one. Not so much in what you’ve done, but surely with matters of this importance I’d have expected the Boss to double check everything was correct.

Why should you shoulder all the blame!!!