Made a mistake at work and I am FREAKING out

[Schhhteeevie]

I’ve been there 6 months. I had to work out some costs (covering a project inflight over the last 5 years, so before my time) I worked them out (took a couple of months) but basically duplicated one of the costs. We haven’t actually invoiced the customer, but I’ve outlined the costs already in detail and provided the paperwork. They haven’t realised that I’ve almost overcharged them (circa 40k) so I will have to come clean and tell them it’s a mistake. That’s embarrassing.

Worse still, I’ve already let the senior team know that we will be invoicing 160k but actually it’s going to be more like 120k. So, the client AND my colleagues are going to think i’m a complete idiot.

My mistake seems so glaringly obvious to me now. I’m just really spiralling into horrible thoughts.

1. Im going to be fired
2. Im actually quite stupid

3 Best case scenario I don’t get fired but lose the respect of my colleagues

Im really, really anxious about this, how bad is it?

It was a mistake, that's all. The sooner you come clean, apologise and rectify the error, the better.

Everyone makes mistakes. If you handle this well, with integrity and honesty, your bosses will actually have more respect for you.

Try not to spiral into anxiety! Just explain tomorrow in a factual way (no begging for mercy!), tell them how you're going to fix it, reissue the paperwork and then draw a line under it.

It's not that bad - happens all the time - the most important thing is to tell your immediate superior ASAP so the issue can be dealt with. If you leave it then who knows what other complications it mights spawn - accounts department goes wobbly - you lose the client - anything. Just like they always say about credit card debt - don't put your head in the sand.
Good luck

Has anybody died as a direct consequence of your actions? Nope? Then it's fine.

Sorry, I have a high threshold of what constitutes a disasterous mistake.

Surely it’s better that you overestimated costs rather than underestimated them?

Just come clean and apologise. You’re only human.

It doesn't seem that bad if you've noticed before actually charging them, surely?

Its no big deal, you spotted your own mistake and no invoice has been issued so yay for you. Can you imagine if you had invoiced and the client caught it?! The client will be pleased it's less and although seniors might be annoyed their figures are off, they'll get over it soon enough, no harm done.

It's a mistake, it's actually less money for them to pay. You are overthinking it. Come clean, apologise and move on

It’s not ideal but this super fixable. If someone at my work did this the consequences would range from ‘okay these things happen’ to a chat about taking better care or a training refresh. No one would lose respect especially if you spotted it quickly and corrected the error. Bonus points if you come up with a way to stop it happening again.

Mistakes happen. You caught it so just need to hold your hands up (as you’ve already done!) and maybe think how you might mitigate it in future - any double checks you could put into place? It’ll be ok I’d think

At least you don't have to go back to the customer and ask them for more money - that would be much worse.

From the client's point of view, it's a pleasant surprise! Your senior team might be less pleased, but this is certainly not a sackable offence.

Your clients will be happy they're saving 40k.

Explain it calmly and nobody will mind.

I suspect it won't be nearly as bad as you are anticipating.

Everyone cocks up every now and then and you're still relatively new. Give yourself a break!

I’ve seen people do similar and certainly not been fired.

Phrase it carefully to your manager - not, “OMG I just realised an awful mistake!” but, “I wanted to review everything before finalising, I realised I’d double counted xyz cost.”

Oh I thought you were a health care professional dealing with patients or something.

Honestly, your clients will appreciate you for being truthful, and they’ll be happy they’re not paying £160k.
Your bosses (unless complete twats) will be glad you realised your mistake before the clients had paid, as that would be more embarrassing.

Just be apologetic, but firm when you tell them. It’ll be fine.

It will be fine, this happens all the time. Don’t worry!

Your client will be pleased that the work is cheaper.

Is this a huge sum of money for the company? If so, they should have someone double checking the paperwork. If not, they probably really won’t care. They might even encourage you to just charge the full amount…

It’s so much worse having to ask clients for more money!

@Cocomarine advice is good. It's about how you spin it. Although, I really don't think it's as bad as you think. Own the mistake and they'll respect you for it. We all make mistakes, it's what makes us human.

It’s really not that bad!

The client will be delighted (less to pay) and happy you’re honest and spotted it. I expect that’s more loyalty-inducing than anything else. I really don’t think they will think you’re an idiot - they didn’t spot the duplicate cost either.

Your higher ups might be a bit annoyed the figures are going to be ‘down’ by £40K - but presumably that £40K would have involved actual costs even if the profit mark-up was high so it’s only the profit element that’s reducing slightly in the context of a big project.

Talk to seniors, say how you’ll fix it, agree when/how to address with client.

Give yourself a break. You are human!

Mistakes happen. The important thing is to be upfront and open about it. The client is certainly not going to mind that their project is cheaper than you told them and any decent manager will deal with it professionally and certainly not think less of you for it.

This is fine - just say you were looking over things again tonight and noticed the error. Apologise but don't overdo it.

Straight to your immediate superiors to explain what's happened. Stay factual, so no "I'm so stupid, I don't know how this happened" and other emotive statements (although you should apologise, but once, not repeatedly). I agree that it is a good idea to think of ways this can be avoided in future.

I'm a teacher and in my training year I didn't realise there was a whole other module I should have started teaching to our exam class two months earlier (probably didn't look too good on my mentor either...) On another occasion, my line manager told our top set year 11 the mock was about A when it was about B (not insignificant when you consider that mock marks have formed the foundations for exam grades for the past two years). Our safeguarding team instigated the correct procedure when one of our (extremely vulnerable) pupils ran away but forgot to contact the police, and the list goes on. These people are all extremely competent professionals, but to err is human. You'll be alright. Unmumsnetty hugs, I get anxious over stuff like this too, it's awful.

I've done so much worse. Cut yourself some slack, you're human and so are they, you'll be fine

Please try not to worry. Own up ASAP and apologise and I'm sure it'll be fine. Nobody will think you're stupid.

Always remember, we were all created with the ability to make mistakes. Explain calmly, professionally that you have made a human error. Hope this settles down for you soon.