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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for positive stories after a massive cock up at work?

111 replies

PoppinsMoppins · 08/05/2017 20:48

Just that.

I've really fucked up. Sitting here stressing and can't think of anything else.

Have you got any experience of cocking up and it all being ok?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 08/05/2017 20:55

You'll get it right next time/won't do it again. On the very last day of me covering working for the big boss (this was for four horribly stressful months but I didn't want the job so they eventually had to recruit someone else) I left him stranded at an airport after a full on business trip and long haul flight. Oops.

bobbywash · 08/05/2017 20:59

Hey it happens the person who hasn't made a mistake doesn't exist. About 1/10 of my job is sorting out others cock ups all of which cost a few thousand to sort out. I made my own which meant the we closed a shop for a day when we shouldn't have.

70ontheinside · 08/05/2017 21:01

Without knowing details: Own up, asap. Don't try to hide stuff or blame others.

If there are legal and/or financial implications talk to your union or a lawyer before you admit responsibility. Be careful what you put in writing re. your involvement.

It's a bit hard to say whether you'll be ok without knowing the ins and outs!

Emphasise · 08/05/2017 21:03

I've always found if you take responsibility and have a plan to put it right, you can actually come out of it pretty well. Probably my most used line at work is" I'm sorry, that was my fault. " whereas colleagues will try to explain why it wasn't their fault, which doesn't go down well.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 08/05/2017 21:04

Fess up at the earliest opportunity. It takes the sick feeling away quicker.

But yes, all sorts of cock ups. Mostly as a police officer. It happens to everyone, no one died, and I dealt with the consequences of my mistakes.

Are you OK OP?

Marylou2 · 08/05/2017 21:05

How much of a cock up are we talking about? Forceps left inside the patient/ wrong button pushed at a nuclear power plant or is it the sort of spreadsheet error/ forgot to call a key client mess that we've all done at some point?

FelixtheMouse · 08/05/2017 21:07

If nobody knows about it, make sure you are the one who reveals it.

Chottie · 08/05/2017 21:08

Everyone has done this at some time.

Own up to your mistake, apologise, put it right, learn from it and move on.

Sisinisawa · 08/05/2017 21:10

I fucked up once. Ruined the alteration of a very very expensive dress for a client. Like monumentally fucked it up to an irretrievable level.

I phoned a friend who is in the same business at a higher level and arranged for her to fix it (it was just about fixable with some special skills) at my cost.

I called the client and fessed up, apologised, told her the solution.

I lost a client and was £70 down but retained my reputation (sort of) and the client was as happy as she could be in the circumstances.

I felt it was positive because it was resolved without me having to buy a new dress at 1k.

MyheartbelongstoG · 08/05/2017 21:11

Can you tell us what's happened op, maybe we can help?

I once underpaid the VAT by 60k, not my finest hour!

I owned up and my boss was so kind, she felt bad that I had been stressing.

SweetLuck · 08/05/2017 21:11

We can't really give our own similar stories unless we know how bad your cock up is.

Fruitcorner123 · 08/05/2017 21:15

Yep. I owned up, apologised and tried to rectify as best I could. We all make mistakes.

ginswinger · 08/05/2017 21:17

My colleague booked an entire school party on the wrong (non refundable) flights to Moscow.

Original poster
PoppinsMoppins · 08/05/2017 21:18

I work for a financial adviser. I told a client the wrong thing to do, it was something I should have known but I didn't.

As a result I have probably lost the company the client. And the client may have some small financial loss because of it.

I have already owned up, so no issue there. The mistake came to light today but I wasn't the one to spot it.

They spoke to someone else at my firm and said 'but Poppins told me to do x'

I just feel like such an idiot Sad

OP posts:
Topuptheglass · 08/05/2017 21:21

Yes.

I printed an apology.

LTBiscuit · 08/05/2017 21:23

Is there anything you can do to put it right?

Original poster
PoppinsMoppins · 08/05/2017 21:26

Not really anything I can do now.

I don't want to go in tomorrow.

OP posts:
ThatGingerOne · 08/05/2017 21:30

One time I fell over and landed next to a pound coin Grin

harderandharder2breathe · 08/05/2017 21:31

It's money.

It's not someone's life, health or livelihood.

Mistakes happen, the firm knows that. If it's something you should've known why didn't you? Is there a training need that can be addressed? Will there be others who also don't know but should? Be proactive in trying to prevent it happening again to you or someone else. It shows you can learn from mistakes.

backtowork2015 · 08/05/2017 21:31

Own up and have a plan of action. Don't try and cover it up, it's always better to just apologise. Speak to someone you trust who will help you sort it out.

BrownEyedLady · 08/05/2017 21:32

Might be one of those situations where the only way out is through. As much as you are dreading it, might be best just to go in and face the music. Hope all is well and turns out okay for you tomorrow x

BrownEyedLady · 08/05/2017 21:32

Might be one of those situations where the only way out is through. As much as you are dreading it, might be best just to go in and face the music. Hope all is well and turns out okay for you tomorrow x

DobbyLovesSocks · 08/05/2017 21:33

it was something I should have known but I didn't.

If you didn't know you cannot be held responsible. You know now. Learn from it and move on

Mrsmadevans · 08/05/2017 21:33

hugs my dear , these things happen , you won't do it again . Would you feel any happier if you apologised ? I find if I am in the wrong as soon as I say I am sorry I feel better.Can you do something to recompense the firm or the company who has suffered a loss?

scott2609 · 08/05/2017 21:34

Oh you poor thing. I work within the legal sector and I sometimes live in genuine terror of all if the possible ways I could easily fuck up Grin

Honestly though, people get stuff wrong ALL the time, including senior & very experienced employees.

Has your work place got insurance cover for any financial loss suffered by the client?

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