How would you handle this error

mcmen05 · 2024-04-09T21:53:10+00:00

I do accounts and admin had made error of 14k under on an invoice, I let her know about 10 days ago and have asked nicely for an additional invoice to be done as Customer does not like original changed, Every time I ask she says I'm busy today ill get to it tomorrow and never does. I ran out of patience today and asked her immediate boss to ask her to do it and within 5 mins she had it done now I'm feeling guilty as don't like going to boss about staff. She is a very good worker but doesn't prioritise her work. It was then brought to my attention that she has been helping another team member and she really does have enough of her own work. She just wants to be helping everyone but is just taken on too much. I know she will be in a mood with me now as this is her form, she can make my job difficult as I need invoices to be accurate. How would others have handled this. Last time there was an issue there was huffing for about a month.

isitbananatimealready · 09/04/2024 23:13

You do the accounts and she just raises the invoices, is that correct? And you found that she'd made a mistake involving thousands, you asked her to correct it and she didn't? I suspect that she doesn't think you are senior enough to tell her what to do, which is why she ignored your request, but did it straight away when her boss told her to do it.

Perhaps you need to speak to your boss, who can liaise with her boss to ensure that this sort of thing doesn't happen again.

Incidentally, why does she raise the invoices? How come it is her job when she is admin?

Trez1510 · 09/04/2024 23:20

Surely the other issues ie not prioritising, assisting other team members are not really your issues to address unless you are her boss' boss?

Also who drew these issues to your attention and what proof did they provide?

Original poster

mcmen05 · 10/04/2024 00:30

@isitbananatimealready The Financial Controller asked me to check them off as figures where not adding up.
He then spoke to her boss and they decided that it would be best if I asked her to correct it.
Admin does the invoices as they have all the timesheets from workers.
She likes to impress the Director so if he said do xyz she would leave important stuff to look for something less important.
We don't work in same building so all correspondence is done by email or Teams.
She works in same office as Director.
Accounts is in different country.
Loads of branch companies.
Just hate bad atmosphere,
I just over think and worry.

OP posts:

KoolKookaburra · 10/04/2024 06:28

I think what you did was fine. If she can't deal with things being escalated that's her issue

isitbananatimealready · 10/04/2024 15:49

mcmen05 · 10/04/2024 00:30

@isitbananatimealready The Financial Controller asked me to check them off as figures where not adding up.
He then spoke to her boss and they decided that it would be best if I asked her to correct it.
Admin does the invoices as they have all the timesheets from workers.
She likes to impress the Director so if he said do xyz she would leave important stuff to look for something less important.
We don't work in same building so all correspondence is done by email or Teams.
She works in same office as Director.
Accounts is in different country.
Loads of branch companies.
Just hate bad atmosphere,
I just over think and worry.

Email the Financial Controller then, and ask them what procedure they would like you to follow from now on, in order that this situation doesn't happen again. Express your concern that you feel that you do not have the seniority necessary to tell this admin person what to do.

Ask them to confirm how errors should be followed up and corrected in future, and by whom.

Apollo365 · 10/04/2024 15:51

You did the right thing.

Original poster

mcmen05 · 10/04/2024 20:07

As I expected silence today.
The Financial Controller will just say sure it's sorted now and I'm not going to tell him how difficult it was to get her to do it.
I'll just do what I'm told and keep my head down.
Can't be bothered with huffing and tantrums.

I'm twice her age maybe more so I have seen alot,

OP posts:

isitbananatimealready · 10/04/2024 20:26

mcmen05 · 10/04/2024 20:07

As I expected silence today.
The Financial Controller will just say sure it's sorted now and I'm not going to tell him how difficult it was to get her to do it.
I'll just do what I'm told and keep my head down.
Can't be bothered with huffing and tantrums.

I'm twice her age maybe more so I have seen alot,

Next time you need to ask her to do something, email her and blind copy the email to the financial controller. Then when you inevitably have to chase her, copy the FC in again. Ad infinitum.

That way, at least it won't be you that gets the blame when the figures aren't right, because you can prove that you have tried to rectify it and been ignored.

ArchaeoSpy · 10/04/2024 20:29

i have similar with some people wanting to be boss but as i dont give the details of what my bosses ask me to do it can cause friction with the team,

As for your original question it seems you needed the task completed and sometimes you have to go above to get results as ive had to do the same before when needing projects completed. @mcmen05

Purplehue13 · 10/04/2024 20:40

It sounds like you did the right thing to me.

you asked nicely for the error to be corrected, more than once, and she chose not to prioritise it. It sounds like a 5-10 minute task that she should not have allowed to sit in her inbox for 10 days.
Dont feel bad about it, she should feel bad for not correcting the error asap.

Original poster

mcmen05 · 10/04/2024 22:20

Thanks everyone.
I'm just a worrier.

OP posts:

workoholic · 10/04/2024 23:43

Easy - copy in their boss when you ask for things to be actioned. Bet you get it done then as they will be on all the chasers too.

CrapBucket · 11/04/2024 06:51

I think bosses have more than enough emails without being copied into things because staff are being petty. “I’m just a worrier” is a bit of a cop out… just get on with your own job and liaise with your colleagues to make sure everything gets done surely?

isitbananatimealready · 11/04/2024 17:22

CrapBucket · 11/04/2024 06:51

I think bosses have more than enough emails without being copied into things because staff are being petty. “I’m just a worrier” is a bit of a cop out… just get on with your own job and liaise with your colleagues to make sure everything gets done surely?

It isn't petty though, is it? The person made a financial mistake involving a customer's invoice, and ignored the OP who asked for it to be corrected.

Should the OP need to ask for another similar adjustment and thinks that this request will also be ignored, it is only sensible to have a record of the request so that it can be followed up in due course. It is also eminently sensible to advise a more senior staff member that the request has been made.

blacksax · 11/04/2024 17:27

CrapBucket · 11/04/2024 06:51

I think bosses have more than enough emails without being copied into things because staff are being petty. “I’m just a worrier” is a bit of a cop out… just get on with your own job and liaise with your colleagues to make sure everything gets done surely?

The OP did liaise with the colleague, who completely ignored her.

workoholic · 13/04/2024 00:21

CrapBucket · 11/04/2024 06:51

I think bosses have more than enough emails without being copied into things because staff are being petty. “I’m just a worrier” is a bit of a cop out… just get on with your own job and liaise with your colleagues to make sure everything gets done surely?

The boss should be doing something about it. More it winds them up seeing these emails, more chances are they won't ignore it!