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.

I agree!!

Not your fault op- you did your best when required. That’s all that you could do!!

I hope it is all a storm in a tea cup OP. You did the best you could with the information you had. Remember that and make it clear that the additional was not available to you at the time.

Good luck!

carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-15/carry-yourself-with-the-confidence-of-a-mediocre-white-man/7725068

Head high

You made the best decision you could on the info available at the time

Additional info came to light subsequently

"We are where we are"

Focus on solutions and finding a way forward, rather than apologies / apportioning blame

Good luck

Without knowing context my initial advice would be:

1. Do not resign, or even suggest that you might
2. Do not say anything to incriminate others in your team
3. Listen and say you will investigate/come up with a plan - remember you have not been at work for a week and you need to catch up.

I agree with this too. Shouldn't be all on @ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay

Good luck. Let us know how you get on

Sending best wishes for today OP. I know this sounds a bit morbid but I always find it helps to keep everything in perspective... here is what won't be written on your gravestone when you die.... 'Beloved OP, made a mistake in work in 2025' ....

I hope it isn't as bad as you think. You tried your best with what you had to hand. Things happen. We move forward. Xxx

Would the CEO have had the same information to hand as you did when you made the decision @ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay

Good luck today

No more crazy than the actual CEO being on holiday and uncontactable and leaving her to deal with an actual crisis.

Good luck OP, doesn't sound like a nice environment anyway.

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!

But she DIDN'T make an error. She made an appropriate judgement based on the information available at the time and kept her CEO informed.

And, TBH, even if she had made an error, I don't think that carting your laptop off on holiday to the Mediterranean or wherever and cancelling booked tours is anywhere in her employment T&Cs

Good luck! I hope everything works out well and you can carry on doing your job 🤞🏻

Good luck @ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay. Hoping it’s not as bad as you’re thinking it is

Good luck

Best of luck OP. Often the anticipation, and worry, is worse than the outcome.

Best of luck today!

Oh love, I can feel the stress from here! I really hope it's not as bad as you think it could be x

Yes, best of luck!

But even if it all turns out to be a storm in a teacup, her holiday was ruined and she can't get that time or money back.

I'd be looking for another job.

Best of luck today!

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the situation, you were on holiday and while balancing not throwing your team under the bus, there were competent people on the ground and the business should be able to cope without you for a brief amount of time.

Yes, listen, of course and lots of, 'well, in hindsight...' sorts of comments.

Solidarity and hugs. I am in a similar position - have dropped some balls at work, had a plan to catch up but I had to have an emergency surgery and everything has gone horribly wrong whilst I’ve been on sick leave.

Being sacked would be a mercy for me at this point, I really never want to work again.

Another saying the CEO screwed up and he knows it. He wasn’t around to help make the call, he didn’t make his executive committee member or deputy clear and is now bricking it himself as investors aren’t happy.
Take the high road here and be helpful and constructive in sorting it out, but no need to fall on your sword.

When you're away from the office, it is the easiest time for the blame to be laid at your feet. Do not accept that.

It's happened to me in the past and it's happened to a very good friend (who did end up fired).

Let us know how it shakes out. And I'm sorry it ruined your trip. That's horrible.

Look, you made a decision in the absence of the CEO, based on the facts that were available at the time. Unless they can demonstrate that you should have done better due diligence before making the decision, and that doing this would have led to a different decision having been made, I can't really see what they can criticise you for. As a Chief Exec myself, I absolutely wouldn't have expected you to take your laptop on holiday with you in that scenario... you did a comprehensive handover before you went, and you were on holiday!

I'm sorry that the worry about this has spoiled your time off, OP, and I hope that your workplace is reasonable in how they approach this. We are all fallible and we all fuck up sometimes. Assuming that you don't make a habit of it, I would not be firing you for something like this. You did your best.

Thinking of you - I know that feeling of terror x

Everything crossed for you OP X