Embarrassing mistake at work? Own it

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment at work? Well, according to new research, you’re not alone.

One in three (30.8%) Scottish professionals admit they’ve made an office faux pas, with a further 35% admitting they tried to cover it up.

The study from CV-Library, a leading UK independent job board, surveyed more than 2,000 UK professionals, and reveals the amount of staff trying to hide embarrassing moments from their boss rises to 36.4% in Glasgow and 50% in Edinburgh.

Alongside this, only 33.3% of Scottish professionals have actually been successful in covering up their mistakes; while 50% of workers in the capital and 25% in Glasgow got away scot-free.

The study also asked professionals about their most embarrassing moments at work, with the top five including:

1. Leaving a smell in the bathroom – 29.4%

2. Accidentally saying ‘love you, bye’ on a work call – 23.5%

3. Tripping over in front of the whole office – 17.6%

4. Sending a negative email to the wrong person – 11.8%

5. Congratulating someone on being pregnant when they weren’t – 11.8%

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CVLibrary, said: “There are plenty of silly mistakes you might make through your career, but these can be easily avoided.

“For example, sending negative emails about your colleagues will eventually catch up with you, so always remain professional in the working environment.

“When you do make a mistake, don’t try to cover it up.

“Employers value trust, so if you’re seen to be lying, this will only make the repercussions far worse. Be truthful and own your mistakes, no matter how embarrassing they may be.

“Lying to cover your tracks rarely works and will come back to bite you eventually.”

Interestingly, only one in 10 (10%) professionals in the country said their embarrassing moment had implications on their career. This number rose to 16.1% in Edinburgh but fell to 9.1% in Glasgow.

Lee added: “Making an embarrassing mistake at work can seem like the end of the world, but it doesn’t have to be. Act quickly to minimise its impact and don’t be too hard on yourself – it’s how you deal with the mistake that really matters! If it goes too far, or you’re unfortunately let go from your job, there are plenty of employment opportunities in major cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow to make the most of.

“But be wary that your existing employer will probably have to give a reference on your performance at work.”

Don’t beat yourself up if you have made an embarrassing mistake at work – it’s not the end of the world.