[Bungleau]

One other important item that Cerek's post just reminded me of...

IIRC, you said that this all started from a system-generated email that included the words "thanks for talking with me today" or something to that effect.

Is that true?

If so, do you have the ability to edit the email before it goes out? If so, then you can admit to an oversight on your part, and promise it won't happen again. If not, then you can ask how the system tools can accomodate your situation, where you were responding to an email and not a voice call.

I agree with Cerek... the "everyone else is doing it" defense is a weak one. Doesn't work as a kid (everyone else is going) because of the easy retort - If everyone else were jumping off a bridge, would you?

The "sometimes you have to stretch the rules" defense is better, but is also an admission of guilt. Save this for the close of this sale... if you open with it, you're setting the stage that you're wrong.

Just had a thought... if you can, role-play through this with someone who can pretend to be your boss and/or the HR person. Have them be mean and nasty... if you've run through that while you can think about it, you won't be caught flustered when it happens for real.

The "Perhaps I could have done this better" approach is a good one... kudos to Cerek for it. It acknowledges that things didn't happen quite the right way and opens the door for methods to clean it up without anyone - you, your boss, or HR - having to lose face in the process.