Walking back into a ****storm tomorrow

[ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay]

I've been away on holiday for a week, back in the office tomorrow. There was a bit of a crisis happening before I went so I wrapped up as much as I could and did a decent handover. It's all blown up, my boss (CEO) has been sending furious emails and I've spent the week keeping a face on for DH and the DC while lying awake for hours at night thinking about it. My team have handled it like troopers but have also been messaging me and have set up a meeting first thing tomorrow before CEO gets in so I'm not blindsided, bless their thoughtfulness.

I'm going in extra early to clear my desk before my team get in, in case I'm getting fired. I don't know how I'm going to hold it together TBH. I've told DH that it's bad, but not how bad. He just said it's a bank holiday, don't worry about it until tomorrow. I'm tired, my holiday was ruined and I just want to go in and get it over with.

Ignore the people who are obsessed by who was or wasn’t working on their holiday. That’s not the issue here. The issue is (a) you did something that had bad consequences, even if not your fault, and will probably need to go through a ritualistic process of being bollocked - hold your nerve and stick to your lines and you should not be fired. Keep your focus on (b) which is how best to address the consequences and move forward. Be your CEOs partner in making the situation better - keep your energy and focus there. Good luck.

Ignore the people who are obsessed by who was or wasn’t working on their holiday. That’s not the issue here. The issue is (a) you did something that had bad consequences, even if not your fault, and will probably need to go through a ritualistic process of being bollocked - hold your nerve and stick to your lines and you should not be fired. Keep your focus on (b) which is how best to address the consequences and move forward. Be your CEOs partner in making the situation better - keep your energy and focus there. Good luck.

Were they fired?

This is very good advice about your energy and focus.

Project calm and capable, and that you’re in fixing mode. The vibe needs to be that you’re a professional who’s up for troubleshooting this corporate issue, not a kid who’s in trouble.

Also - think how a man would react.

Keep some perspective. It’s only work. As long as you, your kids and husband are healthy and well then all is ok. Jobs come and go. You are safe.

CEO might’ve made a fuss to make him/her feel important in this game of work and life that we all play. Some people enjoy a drama in their absence as it boosts their ego.

As long as nobody has died, you’re ok. Breathe & try & zoom out so you can see it as a small point in time in your long life.

Great advice above.
Your holiday was ruined?
Not acceptable.
Why is the CEO uncontactable, but you are?
Wishing you well.

No job should be this stressful. Hope you're OK xx

Good luck. I’d be happy to have you on my team OP. You sound great.

So this situation arose because the CEO was on holiday and uncontactable, yet they've ruined your holiday by harassing you? I'd be going to HR and my union.,

This. 💯

Sorry you’re in this position OP, I really feel for you. Sounds like you’re well respected in your role by your team, and CEO.

Agree, the CEO should help navigate and mitigate. Given the info you had, sounds like you both were on the same page.

Is it worth reevaluating what you want in life, so that you can actually enjoy your annual leave, and not have sleepless nights? Perhaps a bigger more established firm, consultancy/contract work, or your own business - you certainly sound smart enough to do it.

You’re heading into another busy period, and haven’t even rested. This is what kills people, literally.

Money is great, but life is too short to be overworked, and not have a decent work/life balance IMO/IME.

To put things into perspective, what is, and isn’t within your control?

Good luck OP, and remember you always have a choice

You did the best you could under the circumstances. It sounds like the holiday timing compounded it, but again that is not your fault.

Is there anyone that steps in for you when you are gone?

There needs to be a change in procedures if everything is down on top of one person, and the place comes apart when they go on holidays.

I agree, the CEO was on holidays too so they can’t blame it all on you.

Good luck OP. Hope its not as bad as you fear.

I hope it all goes okay for you today. I’d be sticking to your guns, you definitely shouldn’t be fired over it as you couldn’t have done differently with the information at hand. I’d be talking to unions and HR for support

It sounds like you did all you could before you went away, with all the information you had. Hindsight is a marvellous thing.

I hope today isn’t as bad as you fear.

This.

This sounds awful and that your holiday has been ruined is so sad. Wishing you the best today

@Rainallnight and @Theextraordinaryisintheordinary and others give good advice, which I expect is already part of your game plan. Stand your ground, write as much as you can down of everything that happened, before you go in, for your own use. Be as positive as you can about finding solutions. Dont for a minute allow yourself to blame yourself. Keep focus on the work ahead and see how things play out over the next few days. Truth always outs in the end. Nothing is more important than your health.

Best of luck today.

eurgh. I can just imagine the feeling in the pit of your stomach op and I really feel for you. Good luck today.

What I cannot comprehend is that having nade an error you went off on holiday without your laptop and didn’t make yourself available. That’s crazy!

I didn't know I'd made an error until Tuesday, when I was already on holiday. As far as I knew, I'd done what needed to be done, kicked off the rest and handed over to the people who would be following it through.

I'm feeling a bit calmer this morning. Deep breaths, lots of listening and note-taking.

I’m sure today will be better than you think it’ll be. It’s not always easy to do, but any way that you can put it in perspective, in terms of (presumably) no one’s life is at risk etc, will help. It sounds as though you have a lovely team who are on your side so you must be good at your job.

Good luck this morning

Good luck. I hope it isn't as bad as you fear.