Who is to blame- me or the boss?

Question

I just started a new job as the assistant to the director of a nonprofit. Last Thursday, I ordered some lunches online for a meeting. On Wednesday-almost a week after I had placed the order-the boss called to cancel it.
When I went to work on Thursday, the boss informed me in the morning that the caterer never received the order. She told me to double check that the order was cancelled. I ended up being sidetracked and completely forgot to call.
An hour or so later she came to me and told me that the food had arrived. The deliveryman informed us that lunch orders are handled by corporate headquarters & not the person my boss spoke to. The bad part is that the company has no customer service center and the only number we have is that guy my boss spoke to.
My boss was so angry with me and basically telling me it was all my fault. Why couldn't she call herself that morning to doublecheck? Sometimes she talks and acts as if she can't do the work I do is beneath her.

Answer 1

The boss is never to blame.

Even though she only asked you to call an hour before the meeting - which was probably too late to cancel the order - it's your fault.

She thinks that your work is beneath you because it is. She's the boss.

Welcome to the big time.

Answer 2

This one really deserved a "Huh?" Food ordered online for a future date. Boss cancels order but the caterer never received the order so it is cancelled. You were to double check but didn't. Then the food arrives even though it was cancelled and order never reached the caterer. Caterer said corporate HQ handles the orders (and pays for them) but there is no corp HQ. So caterer doesn't know what he is doing, someone paid for it, and I presume the food was served.
Makes no sense and that is probably what you are trying to do here. But, it is always the fault of the assistant no matter who did what or didn't do what. Bosses don't do work that is "beneath" them, their assistant does. When an employee is told to do something they do it unless it is illegal and/or immoral - although most employees would do it even if it were those things. Not me and I assume not you. If you want the job you "eat it," unless you failed to follow orders then you admit it and promise "it will never happen again."
And that's the name of that tune.

Answer 3

Ok your boss cancelled the original order herself, didn't she?
All you have to do is confirm that it was cancelled. It was your order so you should be the one doing cancellation, not her. Usually that's how it's done when you purchase something online or offline.
It seems to me you were upset that the boss cancelled the order at first and so you were thinking that she could have confirmed the cancellation herself too. She might have been wrong in the past with other things, but this time was your fault as you said you forgot. Try not to live in the past, it won't do you good and you'll get sidetracked at work.
Do your best to do as you were told, other people will notice.

Answer 4

Well, since your boss did tell you to call and check on it, it was your job to do that. If you would have done so and the lunches still arrived, then she would not have been able to place the blame on you. But she should not have been so angry at you since the only number you had was the one she already called. Did she give you this number herself? If so, she is at fault as well since she only has the one contact number and not the corporate headquarters.
You say you have only been working there a week. It can take a bit of time for employers and employees to adjust to each others ways of doing things so its likely best that you both forget this and try to work together.

Answer 5

When you are hired as an assistant to anyone in any type of company or organization, your job consists of taking care of anything that your boss wants you to and/or asks you to.

She can certainly do the work that you are supposed to be doing, but then you would not have a job, would you???

Part of being a member of the working world, is that you do your work to the best of your ability all the time. No excuses, no being sidetracked. I am sorry to be blunt, but that is the real world.

I am sorry, but you are to blame for this one, and you need to apologise to your boss, and tell her that you were sidetracked and it will not happen again. You are lucky that you still have a job, many bosses would fire you over something like this.

Best of luck to you in your new job, use this as a great learning experience to prove that you can handle the responsibility you have been given.

Answer 6

The boss isn't always right, but she is always the boss. About the only thing is to start looking for a better job, boss. Now you know why the job was available to you. Lousy boss. I doubt you will win here. If you win the battle, you lose the war. Been there, done that, many times. There are good companies and good bosses out there. Don't quit without finding something else first.

Answer 7

It's your fault.

I don't intend to sound condescending, but you had a directive to confirm that the order had been cancelled, and you didn't do it. I suggest that you start keeping notes diligently. Had you written yourself a note and placed it on your desk where you would have seen it every 2 minutes, you wouldn't have forgotten.

You should have somehow tracked down the person who would have received the original order, rather than whomever your boss called. There had to have been a way to do that.

You were hired to do what your boss directs you to do. If you believe the boss should do it herself, then why does your job exist in the first place?

Answer 8

Well, your boss did ask you to call and double check that the order was cancelled. Plus, you said

On Wednesday-almost a week after I had placed the order-the boss called to cancel it.

So, I am guessing this means your boss cancelled the original order, right? You did forget to double check, but if you would have called you would think they would tell you that you have to call a certain number in order to cancel it (who did your boss talk to?).

Just don't worry about it.

Answer 9

Sorry about this however the boss did realize that there was a problem with the canceling of the order and ask you to check on it. Since you forget I feel likr it is your fault, However something like this is no worth getting worked up over. Don't sweat the small tuff.

Answer 10

When in doubt, it's never the boss's fault, whether it truly was or not. Nothing good can come of telling the boss that she screwed up. At this point, it's better to apologize and ask how a situation like this could be avoided in the future. After all, you're working for her, not the other way around.

Answer 11

I hate to say it too, but the reason an assistant position was created at your job in the first place is because someone was needed to handle these smaller things. A director has a lot more to keep track of. Knowing that could happen, you should have made it a priority and called right away.