People at new company just…don’t respond

[Anonymous]

Why are people so weird?

I started at a new, small company several months ago. There’s a habit I notice among my colleagues where you’ll send an email and they just do not respond (we do client work but this is strictly an internal problem).

If you talk to the person they may or may not address what you wrote in the email, but I just find it so bizarre and unprofessional. Does this happen anywhere else?

[Anonymous]

I would wonder if I were inadvertently stepping on a fraught topic. When you talk to them, do you get better info? Is email not the typical method of communication at this company?

I would assume there is more to this than just not responding.

[Anonymous]

How quickly are you expecting a response?
Are these people your subordinates? Are you treating them as subordinates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would wonder if I were inadvertently stepping on a fraught topic. When you talk to them, do you get better info? Is email not the typical method of communication at this company?

I would assume there is more to this than just not responding.

Not really - communication is a weak point at the company overall. I will just send routine emails: indicating next steps on a project, asking questions, etc. Nothing controversial. I just don’t get acknowledgments or thanks (fine, not every place has a culture of giving thanks), but I just find it really off-putting to get NOTHING.

For example, I work on an internal program that involves several people. I sent the key people a kick-off email outlining dates and deliverables. No response to the email from either responsible party, but I checked the shared document and they’d done what’s needed.

I then forward that information to marketing and have gotten no response.

Maybe this is email etiquette for the new age but I am only in my late thirties and I thought it was customary to at least acknowledge communications in a timely way, or at all.

I do not inundate people with emails, either. This is all very routine.

[Anonymous]

Here is what I tell people I work with. Not responding is sometimes the response. So figure out what they are telling you.

Is this professional? No. But here you are. Ask someone you trust what is going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How quickly are you expecting a response?
Are these people your subordinates? Are you treating them as subordinates?

I’m just expecting any response. I don’t get responses 9/10 times. It’s weird.

I am an IC but I treat everyone respectfully and professionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would wonder if I were inadvertently stepping on a fraught topic. When you talk to them, do you get better info? Is email not the typical method of communication at this company?

I would assume there is more to this than just not responding.

Not really - communication is a weak point at the company overall. I will just send routine emails: indicating next steps on a project, asking questions, etc. Nothing controversial. I just don’t get acknowledgments or thanks (fine, not every place has a culture of giving thanks), but I just find it really off-putting to get NOTHING.

For example, I work on an internal program that involves several people. I sent the key people a kick-off email outlining dates and deliverables. No response to the email from either responsible party, but I checked the shared document and they’d done what’s needed.

I then forward that information to marketing and have gotten no response.

Maybe this is email etiquette for the new age but I am only in my late thirties and I thought it was customary to at least acknowledge communications in a timely way, or at all.

I do not inundate people with emails, either. This is all very routine.

Wait you send emails that don’t require a response and want people to just email you back saying they saw your email? This is not typical. I thought you were asking questions you weren’t getting answers to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I tell people I work with. Not responding is sometimes the response. So figure out what they are telling you.

Is this professional? No. But here you are. Ask someone you trust what is going on.

I can safely say I don’t trust anyone at this new company. I’m doing fine but cannot see myself here long-term for this and other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How quickly are you expecting a response?
Are these people your subordinates? Are you treating them as subordinates?

I’m just expecting any response. I don’t get responses 9/10 times. It’s weird.

I am an IC but I treat everyone respectfully and professionally.

My office gets a ton of email. If we need a discussion we hold a meeting, not a back and forth email that may or may not be seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would wonder if I were inadvertently stepping on a fraught topic. When you talk to them, do you get better info? Is email not the typical method of communication at this company?

I would assume there is more to this than just not responding.

Not really - communication is a weak point at the company overall. I will just send routine emails: indicating next steps on a project, asking questions, etc. Nothing controversial. I just don’t get acknowledgments or thanks (fine, not every place has a culture of giving thanks), but I just find it really off-putting to get NOTHING.

For example, I work on an internal program that involves several people. I sent the key people a kick-off email outlining dates and deliverables. No response to the email from either responsible party, but I checked the shared document and they’d done what’s needed.

I then forward that information to marketing and have gotten no response.

Maybe this is email etiquette for the new age but I am only in my late thirties and I thought it was customary to at least acknowledge communications in a timely way, or at all.

I do not inundate people with emails, either. This is all very routine.

Wait you send emails that don’t require a response and want people to just email you back saying they saw your email? This is not typical. I thought you were asking questions you weren’t getting answers to.

You should be grateful you don't work at a Reply-All "Thanks!!!!" place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would wonder if I were inadvertently stepping on a fraught topic. When you talk to them, do you get better info? Is email not the typical method of communication at this company?

I would assume there is more to this than just not responding.

Not really - communication is a weak point at the company overall. I will just send routine emails: indicating next steps on a project, asking questions, etc. Nothing controversial. I just don’t get acknowledgments or thanks (fine, not every place has a culture of giving thanks), but I just find it really off-putting to get NOTHING.

For example, I work on an internal program that involves several people. I sent the key people a kick-off email outlining dates and deliverables. No response to the email from either responsible party, but I checked the shared document and they’d done what’s needed.

I then forward that information to marketing and have gotten no response.

Maybe this is email etiquette for the new age but I am only in my late thirties and I thought it was customary to at least acknowledge communications in a timely way, or at all.

I do not inundate people with emails, either. This is all very routine.

Wait you send emails that don’t require a response and want people to just email you back saying they saw your email? This is not typical. I thought you were asking questions you weren’t getting answers to.

That also happens. I’ve never encountered this anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

^^ that was for OP. I get plenty of informational emails I don't reply to. I also get hundreds of emails. You've only been there a short while and your inbox is empty and you're bored. You need more work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ that was for OP. I get plenty of informational emails I don't reply to. I also get hundreds of emails. You've only been there a short while and your inbox is empty and you're bored. You need more work.

This is OP. I’ve been at places where I am absolutely inundated with emails and I always make a point to thank the sender/ask follow-ups (as necessary)/ and answer questions. I never have unread emails. Maybe I’m particularly type A about this but I think it’s good to create resolution for people rather than leaving them hanging.

[Anonymous]

I'm at a F500. Particularly since the Covid-era, I have to follow-up with almost anyone I need a response from unless it's mission-critical.

In my whole career, only a fraction of people have followed the "acknowledge everything" rule. But general responsiveness has gotten worse.

It kind of feels insulting, but I believe this is systematic and not a personal response to me. It is not generational (e.g., younger employees being ruder).

I'd also like to switch jobs. But I've learned not to shoot myself in the foot out of impatience.

[Anonymous]

Different norms and incentives.