made a cock up at work- advice please

**popcorn** · 23-03-2012, 06:57pm

my colleague rang me yesterday to say that i had made a mistake at work and our boss was going ballistic.
Basically i had mislaid a piece of correspondanne and thus the report that needed to be done had missed the deadline.

what would you do on monday?
Chances are my boss won't be in the office as he works at other sites so i won't actually see him.
Should i phone him and apologise or wait until i see him next.
I have no excuse it was an error on my part and i obviously will be careful not to do it again .

Or would you leave it as the situation has been resolved and mentioning it may make things worse?

I m failrly new at the post so don't know my boss very well

thanks P

**Rosa** · 23-03-2012, 07:02pm

Ugh I really feel for you its horrible knowing you have messed up but not really know what the consequences will be

I would definitely contact your boss ASAP to apologise, if nothing else it looks like you are taking responsibility for your mistake, and also means you are dealing with the issue and not leaving it hanging over you.

Hope it goes well, remember you have only done ONE thing wrong and I'm sure there are loads of things you have done really well so try not to focus on only the bad

**Miss_Jane** · 23-03-2012, 07:03pm

Does your boss know that the other person phoned you? I'd probably wait for the boss to mention it and hope that it all blows over quickly.

**Peony** · 23-03-2012, 07:15pm

I'd say sorry on the phone as soon as possible or write an email if you can't take to them directly.

**fifitrix** · 23-03-2012, 07:26pm

I would do as Rosa suggests

Then you have taken ownership of it all, and anyway it will be much better to know that your boss's reaction is going to be, than just worry about it until you hear. It's one mistake and whilst it's had bad consequences, it is JUST a mistake

**Cat Queen** · 23-03-2012, 07:29pm

Originally Posted by Miss_Jane

Does your boss know that the other person phoned you? I'd probably wait for the boss to mention it and hope that it all blows over quickly.

Have to agree some of my colleagues do have a tendancy to blow things out of proportion and make situations worse than they actually are. I would wait and see your boss yourself.

**parkejm** · 23-03-2012, 07:31pm

Was it definitely your mistake? I wouldn't do anything until you know all the details.

**popcorn** · 23-03-2012, 08:11pm

thanks guys. .
Definitley my mistake. My colleague may be exaggerating how angry my boss was but the missed deadline is a major problem.
she phoned to warn me so i wasn't walking in blind .

P

**Jenevieve** · 24-03-2012, 09:07am

I agree with Rosa - call him on Monday. Take responsibility for the mistake, say sorry, and do all you can to make amends. If it was an honest mistake then these things happen and if you act appropriately then he can't be too angry.

Good luck