can I get fired for this? how bad is it?

[Snowowls]

I work in a company where I enter data manually into a system. I do about 8000-10000 entries per annum (it's about usage of a certain product which is linked to invoice creation). I was informed last week that in the last few months, 3 entries were incorrectly entered (though the have been corrected after the customer complained), all invoices had been corrected. I have been told that is is an unacceptable standard of working and I am having an urgent meeting with my line manager about it next Monday to discuss my poor performance. I have been in my job for 5 years but I worry I will let go. There were innocent mistakes. Not sure how they happened, just human nature. It's the first time in 5 years such a mistake has been flagged to but I am absolutely terrified as I have now a (disciplinary?) meeting about it. Any advice on how to respond? I am not in a union.

Don't resign.

The likely path is that this will be a verbal warning and your performance will be monitored more closely for the next few months.

If you continue to make mistakes that could lead to a Final Written Warning and eventual dismissal but it's far more likely that having had the verbal warning you are more careful and don't make further mistakes.

If you do continue to make mistakes book an appointment with your GP to explore if there is a reason your abilities are deteriorating after years of no problems. For example, Brain fog triggered by menopause would be one possibility and your employer would be required to make reasonable adjustments to help you if this is affecting you. However reasonable adjustments are only reasonable if thet result in you being able to meet the required standard, they aren't required to keep employing you if you actually can't do the job - but if that happens your employment would be terminated due to health incapacity rather than through a disciplinary process which would be a better outcome for the purposes of future job hunting.

Give UNITE a ring and ask if they will cover you if you join now. It will cost around £20 a month full time, but you can cancel when this has been sorted.
That is if you think that cancelling would be worth it; you might possibly get in trouble again.

This
join a union now OP, before this escalates further if they don’t admit they’re unrealistic. You don’t know when you need a union, until you need one, and then it’s too late for them to take your case!
everyone, join a union 😉

If an organisation wants (or needs) zero errors, for example anything medical, safety, drugs etc, then they put double checks and controls in place.

if you rely on one person and one process you get errors.

are there any secondary checks or processes (like reconciliations) that should have picked these up. If they failed too I’d expect this to be an issue but on the face of it, a low level of human error is perfectly normal and it’s the organisation that needs to either amend its targets, or resource double checking.

If you do continue to make mistakes book an appointment with your GP to explore if there is a reason your abilities are deteriorating after years of no problems.

I am extremely productive. My error rate is 0.03%. I am not sure a GP appointment due me 'deteriorating abilities' is the way to go.

I work in banking where there is also zero tolerance for manual data entry errors.

However, because the company wants 0 errors we have a system where a second person checks every single value.

If 0 errors is so important then they should have these kind of checks in place because humans do make errors! Their target is unreasonable unless they are willing to have second line checks!

The error rate is utterly unrealistic, I would ask them how they justify it. You could ask them how often has it been achieved and what are the historic error rates.

This within the bounds of normal performance. I would speak to ACAS.

In my previous job I'd do around 2000 entries in a year, in a place where wrong information could have serious legal consequences. If I'd made 3 mistakes in the 2000 I'd have been commended for my excellent accuracy. Show me the person who says they never make mistakes and I'll point to the liar. EVERYONE on the planet makes human errors. Your accuracy rate is OUTSTANDING!!! DO NOT be bullied into thinking any different. Point out to your supervisor that you are human and not a machine. You can apologise for the errors but NOBODY can guarantee absolute accuracy. I'm actually in awe that you've only had 3 mistakes!!!!

That ^

I get stressed over my errors and mine are 7 in 5898

usually, you have to be a union member for three months before claiming assistance in a dispute.

You are a human and not a machine - if they want 0% mistakes then then they need a machine. They sound inhuman. I doubt anyone human could achieve 0% mistake rate given what you do.

If that is their expectation then I would start quietly looking for something else and let them find out the hard way that actually you were really good at your job and more fool them.

More likely to see Trump die tomorrow than you get fired over this.

That error rate is extremely low. Make sure you use that in discussion and have data to support it.
then, as I said previously, go armed with suggestions on how to improve. I saw you added that you don’t see totalled invoices and that would help you spot human errors - give that some thought about is there a report that could be written for you, or additional access for you to get access to that? Go prepared with how to reduce the already low rate of human error. Make that systemic argument- ANYONE would have errors, engineer to eliminate causes one by one, ,

Try not to worry

join the union again: most will help you after 6 months, the fact you were a member before will help you I’d hope

This could be lots of things, but sacking you after 5 years for this would be disproportionate

Stay calm and see what they have to say : I don’t think you’ve done something wrong, there is always a level of human error and yours is low

If they put you on a PIP or similar post here for advice

also call ACAS about this

If ever there was a job for AI....
Instead it makes "art" and pretend girlfriends

I work in performance management for a data and compliance dept. Your company should have an accepted risk level for human error. Your KPI cannot be an error level of 0, that's not fair or achievable. If they try and go down a disciplinary route I would recommend pushing back hard. PM if you think I can help!

PS - re giving your suggestions.,, I’d suggest you slow and delay any process as much as possible (dragging things out gives you more time to think clearly) so don’t answer in the first meeting, take time to think & come back later with suggestions

This

Goodness. I wouldn’t last two days in a zero error target for that kind of work. There is bound to be human error from time to time. Echo PP’s who’ve said take advice. You don’t have to say anything at the time, tell them you’re taking on board what they’ve said and you need time to respond. That’s quite acceptable.

No way can they fire you for this Look up the disciplinary procedure on your contract or staff handbook, I would think this would be a warning at most.

This couldn't be construed as gross misconduct, if they fire you for that then you can take them to a tribunal as it's wrongful termination, they have to follow the process and this tiny error margin would not constitute a valid reason

This is utterly ridiculous and a perfect example of ‘systems error’ - an individual will be blamed for making mistakes (‘human error’) but it is actually the system that is not fit for purpose. Demanding 0% error is unrealistic unless there are secondary checks in place. This sounds like a terrible place to work; you clearly have transferable skills and I encourage you to look for other positions where you feel more valued, and also where more robust systems are in place to mitigate situations like yours.

You have employment rights after 5 years, they cannot just sack you. I would be inclined to feign some sort of remorse and throw a few ‘ideas’ their way to demonstrate how you can avoid making these mistakes in future. Just to bide my time until I found a job with a better organisation. Blame culture is toxic and ultimately costly to organisations who are too pig headed to take any systemic responsibility and make necessary changes.

You are in a high-stress but low-income job with massive demands on high speed but zero tolerance for mistakes, even small ones?

I don't think the onus is on you to suggest ways to improve yourself. I think your manager should be the one to make suggestions on how to offer you a work environment where you can do your job safely and efficiently without burning yourself out or stressing about minor mistakes.

Sorry I'm not more helpful. This is a crap situation for you, but maybe you can at least take just a small amount of solace in the reassurance that you're not the one with the "poor performance" in this scenario.

Have you had a DSE assessment ? Does your company give money towards an eye test and occupational glasses if required ?

What is the policy on DSE breaks to ensure your wellbeing ?

Do not resign , go off sick if needed but get advice from ACAS. You cannot ve sacked but it sounds like they are looking to manage you out.

You have some great suggestions here, OP. I think the ones about building in safeguards, be they human, machine, or a combination, are particularly sound.

Please rejoin your union, even if it means eating grilled cheese one or two nights a week. I hope but don’t know that your history may count for something.

I think you will feel better after speaking with UCAS.

Very best wishes

Unite helped my daughter on the day she joined.

OP don't resign! your accuracy rate is absolutely outstanding. You've had great advice here. I hope your meeting goes well.