Twitter user @fleursaugefille was one of the people who joined the fun. When they worked at a college cafeteria, they didn't know what kosher was. When the time came to serve a Jewish convention and someone asked @fleursaugefille if the bacon bits were kosher, they thought the question was "Are these for sure?" as in "Can we eat them?" so they replied "Sure, go ahead."
"I worked at the cafeteria for three years but I was only 14 when I started," @fleursaugefille told Bored Panda. "I agree that [such mistakes don't necessarily make someone a bad employee] but it also shows that my employer should've educated us on what kosher was."
"I'm not sure if there's any real resolution to the story because they ate the bacon bits and I never heard about it again!"
Debby Carreau, who has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 25 HR Professionals, says it's completely normal to feel embarrassed, ashamed, disappointed or worried that you might get fired after making a mistake at work. "Accept what happened and allow yourself to take in those emotions — but not for too long. Then, take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, It’s not the end of the world," Carreau wrote.
Realizing that will allow you to really analyze the situation. "Pretend it was someone else that made the mistake and evaluate what happened with a calm, objective eye."
Next, determine if there's a way to fix your mistake. Should you have that opportunity, do it immediately. "Then, let your boss know what happened and apologize. Depending on how big or small the mistake was, you can do it via email or in person," Carreau explained. Keep it short and get to the point: 'Hi [X], I sent you the wrong sales report this morning. I'm so sorry about that. I just emailed you the correct one, but please let me know if there's anything else I can do. If any of your colleagues were affected by the mistake, reach out and apologize to them as well."
Consider having a private meeting with your boss. "This isn't always necessary, but if your mistake led to some serious consequences, ask your boss if you can have a private meeting. When you have your sit-down, be factual, clear and take responsibility: 'I wanted to apologize again for [X] and explain to you what happened.'" A good boss expects you to make mistakes, so don't whine or try to come up with excuses.
After you've explained what happened, offer a solution. "You might say: 'I know I already missed the deadline, but I can stay late today to finish things up.' If you truly can't think of a solution, just be honest: 'I want to rectify the situation, but I'm not sure how. What can I do to make things better?'"
Don't forget to adjust your work style until you find a routine that works best for you. With the right mindset, making mistakes can lead to personal growth, so be kind to yourself, eliminate any negative self-talk, and then let it go.
