[galiciaoasis]

I stated working as an intern about 4 months ago and one of the first jobs I had to do was pay the boss's non-residential property bills and record them into Quickbooks. Instead of using the envelope provided with the cable bill, I decided to enter the address into Quickbooks, thinking it would save time in the long run but when I read the address I recorded an "8" instead of a "3". So the first cable paid bill is eventually returned because of the wrong address. Before this bill is returned, I send a new check because the cable company had sent a new bill with the late fee payments. This should have raised a flag, but the fees descriptions were misleading to someone like myself who had never paid a bill in his life before (parents had always taken care of that stuff).

Unfortunately for me, Quickbooks remembers the address entered. I am fairly certain that I sent another preprinted check with the wrong address. Anyone who has seen the optical illusion with the double words in a two-line sentence would understand, though I was admittedly careless.

The day I got the returned check, I managed to get some info on the account from the cable company (my name is not on the account) verifying that the balance was paid for. Here's the kicker: my boss was on vacation at the property with his wife during the time that the cable would be cut off. I lost a lot of sleep wondering if he (The boss and I get along pretty good btw) had to call up the cable company to get his cable back on.

Monday the boss comes back to work. The person who handled my job (works at different section) said they made a similar mistake earlier and pretty much got chewed out by the boss, understandably.

What should I do to smooth out my mistakes? Is a nice bottle of wine and an "I'm sorry" card too cliche? Should I wait for him to bring it up to me?

Any advice that would help me would be appreciated.

 

[NeObliviscaris]

I'd suggest bring it up with him, just explain your situation, and then suggest a new method of ensuring it won't happen again.

Obviously there is a flaw in the current process you have, so maybe tell your boss, look this mistake has happened twice, maybe we should review the way to send out cheques for the bills.

This way, as I see it, you've turned a negative into a positive.

edit: oh and welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet. should i suggest a pair of earphones that will fix your problems?

 

[galiciaoasis]

I think I needed to get that off my chest without talking about it.

Feel free to send suggestions for earphones, just no Grado SR-60s or Senn HD580s as I have fallen asleep with both on for many years. Comfort is key for me. And the 580s low end could have been better. Music tastes are various electronic stuff (Casino Versus Japan currently) to World music that is mostly acoustic or live.

Thanks again.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Tell him what happened, apologize, explain how it happened, offer to pay any late fee, and then explain the steps you've taken to make sure it doesn't happen again.

And don't worry too much about the service being turned off. Most companies will wait for you to be 30-60 days late before interrupting service.

 

[intoflatlines]

I would say you bring it up first, explain the situation and apologize. Don't try to justify your mistakes by making excuses, just tell what happened and apologize.

 

[Orcin]

As others have said... tell the truth, apologize sincerely, and explain the actions that you have taken to ensure it doesn't happen again.

 

[kain]

maybe switch his/her cable company

 

[braillediver]

“my boss was on vacation at the property with his wife during the time that the cable would be cut off.”

Oh man you ruined his vacation? Your boss is coming back to fire you personally.

In some cultures it’s appropriate to cut one of your fingers off to show remorse? The way it’s going if you give him a bottle of wine he’ll probably be a recovering alcoholic?


I probably wouldn’t worry about it. The only people I know who don’t make mistakes don’t do anything.


Mitch

 

[jeffreyj900]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin /img/forum/go_quote.gif As others have said... tell the truth, apologize sincerely, and explain the actions that you have taken to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Exactly what I would do, and what you should do any time you make a mistake. Your boss wants to know you are sorry, you take responsibility for whatever it is, and what the corrective action is. Oh, and ALWAYS tell the truth. Nothing good comes from not doing so, in fact you will generally dig yourself a deeper hole.

Jeff

 

[plainsong]

Yup, honesty is the best policy. I think it's bad form for him to chew out someone who 'fesses up, but whatever, some bosses just need to compensate. Be humble, state what happened, why it happened, and how you fixed it. And obviously apologize.

 

[Trippytiger]

I'm pretty sure the OP has done whatever he plans to do about the issue; this thread is two months old!

 

[plainsong]

Oh ***, this is a bannable offense on some sights. I mean if there was something meaningful to add I could understand, but, What, was it worth resurrecting for a one-liner that wasn't even funny?

 

[Trippytiger]

I know! Why some people like to be thread necromancers and haul up old discussions for no reason is beyond me.

 

[Fitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippytiger /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know! Why some people like to be thread necromancers and haul up old discussions for no reason is beyond me.

Somebody should come along a few months from now and revive this thread to agree with you.

 

[The Actual]

I didn't see it the first time around but find it interesting now that I have a chance to read it.

I don't mind resurrecting old threads.



galiciaoasis, I hope everything has turned out for the better.