Was I right to apologise?

[Magneto]

Be warned, what follows may be a complete over reaction and I may need a slap. In fact, please slap me anyway - I think I deserve it.

Today in work I was asked if I would do some extra work on a task I had been doing. I replied by saying something along the lines of, "I could but I may lose the will to live. It's a bit boring." at which point a colleague overhead and said "Did you actually just say that?" I had meant my comment to be funny but once it was out it was clearly not funny. Of course I will do the work I'm asked but why oh why did I have to say that outloud. It isn't even that boring, I've done much worse!

What I had meant was that I didn't want to do it if it had no value, I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be completing this task when it didn't really have to be done.

This is throwback thinking from my old role as I have just moved to a new team after being quite isolated for nearly a year. I was the only person responsible for a lot of work and was constantly being asked to do this and that the other, which due to being completely overwhelmed with work I had to learn to push back and say no, I can't do it unless it is absolutely necessary. This was quite difficult for me as I would much rather be helpful and say yes, so it was quite a learning curve to begin to say no.

So for the rest of the day my boss made a few comments such as "I know this isn't the most interesting job in the world" etc while I kept saying "Oh no, it's absolutely fine." So in the end I emailed the boss to say that I'm sorry for saying what I had said and that I had meant it to be funny but once I said it I realised it wasn't. But I got no reply. So now I'm wondering if I did the right thing. Should I have said sorry at all? Should I have emailed it? (in my defense there really wasn't time to ask for a private word all day)

I'm really not such a sulky reluctant worker. I've never done anything like that before in my life! I used to cry if I got told off by the teacher. I never once had a detention. I feel like I've just ruined a lifetime's reputation. Waaahhh!!!

A complete over reaction from your boss/colleague if you ask me. We all complain at some point about our work.... thats the whole point of going!
You've said sorry, you can do do more.

In the nicest possible way, it sounds like you're overreacting. It was just a flippant comment, it really isn't that bad. I would leave it and it will blow over.

• You can do no more . Sorry fat fingers!

Thank you! Stupid as it sounds, I have been worrying about this all day!

You know if I ever did anything really bad or even illegal I'd be an absolute wreck.

I think the email was ok. You'll know to keep quiet next time :)

There.
Now stop being silly and don't apologise anymore. It was a silly throwaway comment, you apologised and that should be the end of it.

Your boss is BU making a big deal of it!

They are over-reacting. It's a phrase I use fairly regularly, and is taken by my colleagues in the same manner that it is meant.

Are you sure they weren't trying to be funny back, and failing miserably?

I say that sort of thing all the time! I don't know why you got that reaction, rather than, "Yes, it's a bit boring, isn't it?"

I wouldn't worry about it. You've apologised, though I'm not sure what for, so that should be the end of it.

Sounds like your colleagues are BU for having no sense of humour.

I say stupid stuff like this all the time, but I wouldn't expect anyone to take it at face value.

Jesus they are a precious lot where you work..

Your remark was a funny joke, if I worked with a stick up arse crowd like that I would be looking round for another job!!

I think what you said was funny but sometimes work people can have a stick up their arse, or as a former colleague of mine once said "be a bunch of talcy-knickers". Don't give it any more thought..... Have a

I laughed at what you'd said and was quite surprised by the rest of your thread.

Maybe I have a similar SOH to you but got what the comment meant - even without any intonation.

I think you are right to start saying no, and commenting honestly about some of your work being more interesting than other bits.

I also found this hard. In school you get good exam results, praise, good reports for working hard. In an office you just get landed with more work, then end up looking ineffective one way or another because you can't cope with the workload, while a smart arse who offloads all their work onto other people gets promoted first because they look more effective.

Anyway, it's a good case for saying no a lot more.

Good grief - I think most of my colleagues say something like this on a daily basis. Its just a phrase people say and not to be taken seriously by anyone .

Your colleagues really need to get out more

Op - your post made me laugh as you sound just like me! That is just the sort of thing I would lose sleep over and possibly cry at work over. I was a totally good girl at school too and would have died in detention. BUT what you said was funny and probably true. Your colleagues sound quite odd tbh. I can understand why you are worrying cos i can totally relate - it is in my nature to be a people pleaser too, but you will have to shake it off and hold your (bored!!) head up high tomorrow! This is their problem not yours and it is only bothering you cos you are a lovely sensitive soul like me!!!

Oh I luffs you all very much.

MarysBeard you are completely right there.

You have apologised and should leave it there. Your boss sounds like he is taking it too far.

i recently told my boss that a monkey with a packet of crayons could do my job, she just laughed and walked away.

I thought it was quite a funny comment