Don't let the title fool you, I'm not some corporate ass-licking, closeted capitalism lover. But if you have employees, let them fix their mistakes. Don't chastise them after the fact.
Context:
I work at a car dealership in the parts/receiving area. My job is centered around pulling parts and getting them set for delivery, among other tasks, including pulling parts for pick up at the front counter. Thank fuck I don't have to interact with customer directly anymore. So I get an order, some bolts, and put it in the will-call area.
About 20 min later, while I'm pulling other shit, my boss coyly asks if I pulled said bolts.
I confirm that I did. He then points out, box of bolts in hand, that it was just a single bolt needed but the box I pulled had 10 inside.
Welp oops. So I go to open the box, you know actually fix my mistake, but he stops me. They had already sorted out the single bolt needed.
Oookay.
He just wanted the follow up and make sure that I'm really keeping an eye out for things like that. Or else we could've given away $35 dollars worth of bolts. I simply say “okay, thanks for letting me know”. He, in a sarcastic manner, jokingly tells me to “don't let it happen again. Then leaves.
So what was the pint of all that? Coaching? I pull dozens of parts each day and the vast majority are correct the first time. And if I fuck up I fix it myself.
So why didn't he just let me fix it? I don't feel like I learned something. I don't feel like I'm less likely to do it again. Statically speaking I will do it again. So what was the fucking point of the interaction?
I'm already having a shit week, and I just needed to vent.
Tl/Dr I make a small mistake and my boss tries to coach/sarcastically chastise me instead of letting me fix it.