Today at work we lost the network connection to the datacenter... no email, no business systems, no internet, no ANYTHING. We have offices across the US, hundreds of employees. What happened was the wrong command was entered in a piece of network equipment that took it all down.

We had 20 people on a conference call representing all of the different groups that manage various systems, including our VP, and even when the network was back working as it should, several systems had to be restarted to get them working again. When the systems aren't up, business doesn't get written.

I feel so bad for the guy that did it. I've worked with him for almost 17 years, one of my best friends, and I know he was upset. He was told by the VP that something of this magnitude couldn't go without consequences. I don't think he will lose his job but he may be put on probation which means no raise, no bonus, and not eligible for any other awards. :-(

Everyone makes mistakes, we're not robots. I've made my share over the years and I know that sinking feeling when you realize what you did.

What a bummer!! I hope he doesn't lose his job!

A bad day to be sure, what a shame.

Wooo, what a bummer!

It will get better.....it always does. :thumbup:

Oh I'm with ya! Poor guy! I hope it all works out for him!

I hope he doesn't lose his job, mistakes happen even big ones.

oh no, I hope he doesn't loose his job, mistakes happen

Boy--- Poor guy already feels bad and now has to wonder what will happen next :?

So sorry for your friend

Hope all works out for him. That stinks!

That is the pits. You don't realize just how dependent we have become to computers til they go down. I hope it works out OK for your friend.

I know he must be feeling horrible right now. Scared or anxious about what will happen and a sleepless night.

I know I would be.

Maybe he could come up with some way that this couldn't happen again, just a thought. The top dog would love something like this. Hope it all works out for him.

Gosh, I hope everything is okay, EVERYONE makes mistakes.....

That's really lousy management to shove all the responsibility on a 17 year company employee. The company should have known this could happen. There is no way they didn't think something like this could ever not happen. Management looks like idiots right now and they know it. It's sad they are looking for a fall guy to place blame. He made a mistake but there should have been measures in place to lessen the outcome for such a mistake. If he is terminated, he has a great wrongful termination case.

We're all human and make mistakes, but what a terrible feeling to know your mistake is broadcast over such a huge area.

I used to work in a print shop and it was very humbling when I saw my mistake on a business card reprinted 5000 times!

The important thing is to learn from mistakes. I hope your co-worker is given that chance.

Yes, we all make mistakes......but upper management HAVE to have someone to dump on and unfortunately, they don't care what happens to that employee. It's as if them firing or punishing this employee will make others work better!!! The best employer will be understanding but stern about taking care in the future.

The big question to keep in mind in these situations is: Did anyone die? Was anyone physically harmed or in danger due to the mistake? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in how important we are, that we forget what is really important in life. Geesh, make the guy buy donuts for everyone and call it good. If I were you, I'd make sure to give the guy some sort of card or token to show your support of him. Life is way too short. Inconvenience is one thing, death is another.

I am so sorry for your friend :( I hope they reconsider this punishment...

Times like that I like to use the old saying: Feces occur. (aka Sh** happens) Not much he can do about it now - bet he will NEVER make this mistake again. Hope they are not too harsh with him.

I feel for him! Having been a systems programmer for a regional utility company in "a previous life", I recall all the times we had systems problems.

What always amazed me was when the boss would watch over our shoulders and ask "So what's wrong?" ... and I would have to try very hard to sound NICE when I replied something along the lines of "Well, if I knew the answer to THAT, I would have fixed it already!"

Actually... that scenario applies to pretty much all problems, not just those that are computer related.

!!

I am so sorry for the poor guy. I can only imagine how terrible he must be feeling already. I hope they aren't too harsh on him.

If this is the first time that he has made a mistake of this magnitude, and typically does good work, the worst that happens should be a written warning to document that it cannot happen again. When people deliver good work day after day and something happens that is clearly a mistake and didn't happen through their negligence, I usually just say something like "you know this cost us a lot of money and time, I am sure you feel badly and I sure that you will make sure that is doesn't happen again. If it does, I will be forced to take more serious action but I don't expect that to happen".

I can't figure out managers who always have to have someone to blame. You don't get the best out of people if they aren't allowed to fail occasionally. My mantra is 'if you didn't kill anyone, we can fix everything else'. :-)

I work in an area where people do die if we make mistakes. Like the others have said - no one died, that is good, and don't let it happen again, how can we fix it if it does? And thanks for 17 years of good work.

I'm thinking I wish your boss was boss of the CEO of BP right about now...

That is so unfortunate. Hopefully everything goes good with him

So...... What did happen to him? Did they let him go?