What do you do with a perfectionist?

Say you are involved with (or married to) a person who is extremely competent, but also really attached to being perfect. This person makes a mistake at work—really, the first one in twenty years. He or she is beating themselves up about it. It costs the company some 25 thousand dollars. They’ve prided themselves on how much money they’ve saved the company over the years.

However, the company is in a merger, and the division your friend or spouse is in may be eliminated. They might still be able to save their job (or remain employed) if the division is eliminated. They are scared, and their family depends on them.

This person is very talented. However, they are beating themselves up about the mistake. Any company with brains would want to hire them. However, the economy is for shit.

Can you help them? Is there any feasible way to reassure them? If they work even harder, their family will suffer, too. Is it worth worrying about? What would you advise them to do? Would you even advise them to do anything? How would you comfort them? Does it make a difference if they are male or female?