I am business manager for a small fitness center. The economy has left its mark, things are slow, and our income is down. My boss has made it a habit for myself (as well as my predecessors) to double check deposits into the checking account which is on QuickBooks. I have always valued her double check, and after a year and a half, she has only found one error where I had omitted to enter a deposit...that is until last month. Last month, I neglected to enter two deposits. Now, I must tell you that there is a deposit for each of three shifts - 365 days a year - so it is not an occasional transaction. I'm not trying to justify my error, just wanted to tell you how many there are.
We had a stressful day today - and to top things off, I discovered I had not forgotten to enter a deposit, but entered a deposit for $8,000.00 twice - this overstated the money in our checking account.
My boss is usually calm, but this sent her over the edge. She told me it was very serious - I did not act as if it had not been. She asked how it happened - to which I replied, I do not know how I could have done such a thing...I wish I could tell you. I also appologized.
After that, she left the building, and here I sit, a bundle of nerves and upset.
I am a good, honest, and usually accurate bookkeeper. However, I just want to cry.
Nance
of PA
@
Nov 24, 2009 20:41:29 PM
One other thing...
I have had a lot of bosses who do not want to hear "I am sorry". More importantly they want to hear "This is what I can contribute to righting the mistake." The boss might decide that someone else is better able to correct things, but being proactive in a solution goes a long way.
Hank
of DC
@
Jul 14, 2009 15:53:46 PM
phew
Thanks for posting this, I have just read it after making a pretty big mistake today. I feel alot better about it after reading your recomendations on how to handle these situations, thankfully i did pretty much what you have recomended.
poof
of KY
@
May 27, 2009 05:14:11 AM
Looks like I did
a very similar post also back in January. Did you steal it from me Alison?
I'm kidding, I just wanted to put a link up there.
These are good points, I think they are fairly obvious to most people that have a sense of responsibility.
Brandon Alsup
of WI
@
May 21, 2008 16:49:01 PM
My Apologies
Marie, You are right. My tone was a bit harsh and my accusation premature. My apologies to both Alison and anyone else who was offended.
Andres V Acosta
of OR
@
May 20, 2008 12:24:59 PM
and I should add...
I should also add that my article was sent to U.S. News on Thursday night, the day before Andreas' was posted. But even if none of that were the case, this is just a bizarre accusation; the two articles aren't particularly similar.
Alison Green
of DC
@
May 20, 2008 12:18:03 PM
Such an accusatory tone!
First of all, you don't know.
Perharps she read your blog, and got there the inspiration for her post.
Or, she had someone confessing a mistake at work yesterday.
Or, she could have drafted/written this article ages ago.
You don't know.
Then, blaming her publicly (with no or so little evidence) is not a good strategy. You have doubts about her integrity? Send her an email first and wait for a reply. I'd be curious to see how you manage these situations at work... Do you go mad everytime someone takes credit for your work???
And last but not least, I guess you have already been through the HR blogosphere. You may then have noticed that dealing mistakes at work is a quite reccurent theme.
(and sorry for the poor English, i'm French)
Marie
@
May 20, 2008 12:11:01 PM
It looks like a coincidence to me,
Mr Acosta, it really does.
GLH
of MN
@
May 20, 2008 03:11:16 AM
Maybe
Steps 1, 2 and 3 above may work better in the author's non-profit world. In the government bureaucracy world, BE CAREFUL. An honest admission is very likely to get a BIG reprimand write-up in YOUR file to cover the supervisor's rear end.
I've seen it happen just that way, and rudely too boot, even when absolutely no real harm was done by the conscientiously admitted error.
Nance of PA @ Nov 24, 2009 20:41:29 PM
Hank of DC @ Jul 14, 2009 15:53:46 PM
poof of KY @ May 27, 2009 05:14:11 AM
Brandon Alsup of WI @ May 21, 2008 16:49:01 PM
Andres V Acosta of OR @ May 20, 2008 12:24:59 PM
Alison Green of DC @ May 20, 2008 12:18:03 PM
Marie @ May 20, 2008 12:11:01 PM
GLH of MN @ May 20, 2008 03:11:16 AM
Daniel David of NM @ May 19, 2008 23:11:22 PM
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