Coworker Insists on Misspelling My Name in Emails- WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to her in person about it.

FWIW, my name is (something like) Bailey and I have a pretty senior person on my team who spells it Baileigh EVERY TIME. I've worked with her for 7 years. It does annoy me. But then I realized she is from another country where that spelling is more common. It doesn't sound likely in your case, but maybe she knows someone with a similar name and it is spelled that way, so her brain just always goes to that.

OP here. No, it's not a similar situation. She is literally just spelling my name phonetically because I think it's "easier" for her to do. Similar to spelling Barack "Burrock"

That is so rude. I don't have any advice other than keep correcting her. I'd correct her with every email. I have a name that is often misspelled (along the Sara/Sarah lines) even though it is in my email address and email signature. I don't correct usually that, but in your case I would. As a PP said, I do, however, think a bit less of people who cannot spell my name right even though it appears multiple times in my emails.

*usually correct

[Anonymous]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/uzo-aduba-name_n_5534112.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/uzo-aduba-name_n_5534112.html

EXACTLY!!!

[Anonymous]

Also, there are people who just can't seem to consistently get names right, no matter what, and they're nice people who mean absolutely no disrespect. I've known and worked for years and years with a few people who spell my name wrong (an ordinary American name with two common spellings). They do it with other names. No amount of trying by any of us can get them to spell our names right. Don't take it personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, there are people who just can't seem to consistently get names right, no matter what, and they're nice people who mean absolutely no disrespect. I've known and worked for years and years with a few people who spell my name wrong (an ordinary American name with two common spellings). They do it with other names. No amount of trying by any of us can get them to spell our names right. Don't take it personally.

This. She/he probably does it all the time, and it is no reflection on you.

I had a colleague who for years, would not only misspell my name, but would change the spelling of it on letters I had drafted for her to forward! Like I would have misspelled my name several times in a letter I had prepared!

[Anonymous]

Come up with some catchy mnemonic to spell your name correctly and then teach it to your coworker. Something funny maybe. "Remember that my name has an A for awesome in it. How could you forget? Awesome that's me " People are often sloppy and I doubt this misspelling is personal. Honestly even with American names, the trend of everyone spelling the same sounding name a hundred different ways is confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, there are people who just can't seem to consistently get names right, no matter what, and they're nice people who mean absolutely no disrespect. I've known and worked for years and years with a few people who spell my name wrong (an ordinary American name with two common spellings). They do it with other names. No amount of trying by any of us can get them to spell our names right. Don't take it personally.

This. She/he probably does it all the time, and it is no reflection on you.

I had a colleague who for years, would not only misspell my name, but would change the spelling of it on letters I had drafted for her to forward! Like I would have misspelled my name several times in a letter I had prepared!

OMG. That would send me crazy!

[Anonymous]

I had someone do this with me (everyone usually gets it wrong the first time, but then corrects it). But this person changed how she got it wrong, every time. And she wasn't stupid either, she is a partner in a law firm.

It drove me nuts.

In the end I started calling her by random, incorrect names, and she stopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, there are people who just can't seem to consistently get names right, no matter what, and they're nice people who mean absolutely no disrespect. I've known and worked for years and years with a few people who spell my name wrong (an ordinary American name with two common spellings). They do it with other names. No amount of trying by any of us can get them to spell our names right. Don't take it personally.

This. She/he probably does it all the time, and it is no reflection on you.

I had a colleague who for years, would not only misspell my name, but would change the spelling of it on letters I had drafted for her to forward! Like I would have misspelled my name several times in a letter I had prepared!

OMG. That would send me crazy!

And what was funny was that she had a name that could easily be misspelled as well, so you'd think she'd be more sensitive to it. Think Carrie/Kerry.

But really, every time it happened (every month or two for 10 years), I just had to laugh!

[Anonymous]

I just don't get the sloppy mentality with something like this. So you can't remember how someone's name is spelled? Look it up! I know several Alison/Allisons at work and always get confused over who uses one L and who has two. So I check the staff directory on Outlook before I write the greeting to make sure I have the right spelling. I would be completely mortified to send someone a message with their name spelled wrong. It's the first thing they see and it sets a poor tone. Is it annoying to take the extra seconds to look in the directory? Yes, but do it anyway! Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My name is foreign and people often have difficulties pronouncing it when they see it, but it's actually fairly easy to pronounce. A coworker has been spelling my name phonetically in emails and I have corrected her twice already. Once I was very irritated when she did it, because she actually introduced me to an external partner misspelling my name. I feel that it is very disrespectful. What should I do at this point. FWIW, I have only raised the issue with her via email. Should I bring it up in person?

I would go to the person and ask why they are doing it. like, "I've noticed you always use a phonetic spelling of my name, even when introducing me to clients. You're the only person in the office who does this. I've asked you to use my name's actual spelling and you don't use it. Why not?" If they're not paying attention, they'll have the sense to be embarrassed. If they're doing it out of some kind of "your name shouldn't be as complicated as it is" anti-foreigner bias, it'll be clear in their answer. Follow up with "What can we do to help you get my name right?" This is where you help them realize, and point out to them if need be, that all they have to do is use the spelling that's in your email address/phone listing/signature/office directory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My name is foreign and people often have difficulties pronouncing it when they see it, but it's actually fairly easy to pronounce. A coworker has been spelling my name phonetically in emails and I have corrected her twice already. Once I was very irritated when she did it, because she actually introduced me to an external partner misspelling my name. I feel that it is very disrespectful. What should I do at this point. FWIW, I have only raised the issue with her via email. Should I bring it up in person?

I would go to the person and ask why they are doing it. like, "I've noticed you always use a phonetic spelling of my name, even when introducing me to clients. You're the only person in the office who does this. I've asked you to use my name's actual spelling and you don't use it. Why not?" If they're not paying attention, they'll have the sense to be embarrassed. If they're doing it out of some kind of "your name shouldn't be as complicated as it is" anti-foreigner bias, it'll be clear in their answer. Follow up with "What can we do to help you get my name right?" This is where you help them realize, and point out to them if need be, that all they have to do is use the spelling that's in your email address/phone listing/signature/office directory.

OP here. I really like this response! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier about people I've worked with for years who can never consistently get names right, no matter what you do.

I forgot to mention these are all people with some version of ADD. It's a reason I don't tend to say much to them about it. You have to pick your battles and also not make people feel bad. It's not always about you. Yes, I hate that they get my name wrong, but fiddle-dee-dee. Not the worst problem to have with a person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My name is foreign and people often have difficulties pronouncing it when they see it, but it's actually fairly easy to pronounce. A coworker has been spelling my name phonetically in emails and I have corrected her twice already. Once I was very irritated when she did it, because she actually introduced me to an external partner misspelling my name. I feel that it is very disrespectful. What should I do at this point. FWIW, I have only raised the issue with her via email. Should I bring it up in person?

I would go to the person and ask why they are doing it. like, "I've noticed you always use a phonetic spelling of my name, even when introducing me to clients. You're the only person in the office who does this. I've asked you to use my name's actual spelling and you don't use it. Why not?" If they're not paying attention, they'll have the sense to be embarrassed. If they're doing it out of some kind of "your name shouldn't be as complicated as it is" anti-foreigner bias, it'll be clear in their answer. Follow up with "What can we do to help you get my name right?" This is where you help them realize, and point out to them if need be, that all they have to do is use the spelling that's in your email address/phone listing/signature/office directory.

OP here. I really like this response! Thank you!

happy to help. btw, I was just reading about Cialdini's 6 principles of influence this morning, which is why I added the bolded sentence. I suspect that the person does this consciously bc they think your non-american name is too complicated for them and for others and (in the case of the client) was trying to help the client say your name. The people I know who do this tend to have that motivation (the thoughtless/insensitive/ADD people are more of the "calling people named Michael 'Mike' when it's not what they want" mistake-making variety). So this will send a strong message that they are all alone in feeling that way and damn well better adjust.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure you always pronounce everybody's name correctly? Do you have an accent?

See here is the thing... I don't mind that most my Asian coworkers can't pronounce my name.

Jennifer.... Jenefu, no Jennifer, Jenefu, no Jennifer

Do you see how obnoxious I would sound if I corrected them all the time, I know they mean nothing by the mispronunciation, but when I hear them complain that others can't pronounce their name, I think REALLY. You have to be kidding me.

You should just make sure you don't live in a glass house before you throw a stone.