Email annoyance vent

[Anonymous]

I have a pet peeve that drives me nuts, and I'm wondering if it's me or are there others who find it aggravating.

Email Sender (outsider, non co-worker)

Email Recipient (me, other co-workers copied and really aren't the targeted recipient)

Email is asking a question to me and co-worker replies all and says "So-and-so will get an answer to you" or "So-and-so, will you reply back to sender."

Another classic, when we're on a three part email, directed to me and co-worker (boss) texts me to see if I got the email. SERIOUSLY???

Am I in the minority that when the tables are turned, I'll reply offline to a colleague and give them a heads up and a chance to reply if I'm in the position to reply and put them on the clock.

Effing Mondays...

[Anonymous]

We have instant messaging at work. I love it for small things like this: "did you just get that email"

[Anonymous]

I'm sure these things bother others, but they don't bother me. Email replies are fair game for anyone copied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure these things bother others, but they don't bother me. Email replies are fair game for anyone copied.

I disagree. Not giving the primary recipient a chance to respond is rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure these things bother others, but they don't bother me. Email replies are fair game for anyone copied.

I disagree. Not giving the primary recipient a chance to respond is rude.

Agree with this. Not sure why the coworker needs to jump in and manage you. I love it when it is something I have already taken care of so I can tell them that in front of the audience they have decided to create.

[Anonymous]

Workplaces should invest in training their employees in email etiquette. Seriously.

The very email you described happened to me the other day. My supervisor IM'd me while I was on the phone and a video teleconference that was scheduled on the Outlook calendar my supervisor has access to view.

She then did a screenshot to show me the IM she sent me.

She then emailed the team that I was going to do such and such within the hour. I had to miss my lunch because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure these things bother others, but they don't bother me. Email replies are fair game for anyone copied.

I disagree. Not giving the primary recipient a chance to respond is rude.

Agree. It's also a waste of everyone's time; who needs to read an extra email that adds nothing to the conversation?

[Anonymous]

I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".


Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".


Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

One reason I think people do this is if you're on a very large working group with a lot of e-mails. If you've already coordinated coverage for your time out of the office others will remove you from bulk e-mail distro lists and the person that is covering for you can forward/e-mail you if there's a specific issue that needs your attention. Sometimes when you're on a deal you get over 100 e-mails a day and that's a lot to fish through on a smartphone. Also, it lets people know that you won't be available to respond instantly if, for example, you're on a plane or at the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".
Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

This in bold means that you're on vacation and you aren't working. I like getting these emails, then I can decide whether to contact someone else in the group, or to wait until the person in back from vacation.

Respect people's vacations.

[Anonymous]

I get more than a hundred emails a day, every day.

If I just quit answering them - productivity would shut down.



You can enjoy a vacation, and get a little work done - the two aren't mutually exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".
Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

This in bold means that you're on vacation and you aren't working. I like getting these emails, then I can decide whether to contact someone else in the group, or to wait until the person in back from vacation.

Respect people's vacations.

Ummm, yes please. Vacation is just that. Or maybe I am waiting for DH to get out of surgery and have other things on my mind. Or maybe I'm moving mom into a nursing home that day. Or closing on a new house. Or maybe I've just got two doctor's appts, a haircut, and a few other errands all on a personal day, and I don't want to create the expectation that I'm sitting at starbucks just waiting for my phone to go DING.
I do always state that for immediate concerns, please contact so-and-so at 123 extension, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".


Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

Depends on the position. Lots of people at my Foundation don't have email on their phones. It's reserved for senior level staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would add 'out of the office' replies.

"I am out of the office with limited access to email - I will respond on my return".
Really?

Anybody who has a smart phone (which is 99.999% of everybody I work with) does not have 'limited access' to voicemail.


I have never used this - I keep up with my work and email while I am out - it doesn't take that long and people depend on me so as a courtesy I make sure that they don't have to wait until I return.

I understand that some people have jobs where life marches on or where you don't think about work issues when you leave at 5:00, but when you have a job that is an integral part of a business, have some courtesy and respond to a few simple emails - by the way, it will make your transition back to work after a couple of days off a lot easier because you won't have to get caught up on things that happened while you were gone.

Maybe I should rephrase.

At my company, we have an extremely loose vacation policy. Essentially if you want it and your work is caught up, take whatever you like within reason. We are all adults.

From my perspective, what comes with that is the expectation that whenever reasonable - you try to keep the ball rolling while you are out. I would understand if there were health issues, you are on your honeymoon, you need the occasional mental health day, etc - I am really talking about people who place the notification on there every time they take a day off. It is ridiculous, at least in my surroundings.




This in bold means that you're on vacation and you aren't working. I like getting these emails, then I can decide whether to contact someone else in the group, or to wait until the person in back from vacation.

Respect people's vacations.

Ummm, yes please. Vacation is just that. Or maybe I am waiting for DH to get out of surgery and have other things on my mind. Or maybe I'm moving mom into a nursing home that day. Or closing on a new house. Or maybe I've just got two doctor's appts, a haircut, and a few other errands all on a personal day, and I don't want to create the expectation that I'm sitting at starbucks just waiting for my phone to go DING.
I do always state that for immediate concerns, please contact so-and-so at 123 extension, etc.

[Anonymous]

Agree "out of office" replies can be a complete nuisance. And I would love to know anyone who has altered a group thread and deleted the one who is out of office. That almost never happens.

The other reason I hate it is because I get a lot of news and other near-spam, I hate when my out of office replies to them and I get a bounce-back saying that this email is unattended.

So my corporate card was hacked two weeks ago, supposedly Mastercard tried to call me ONCE...while I was on vacation. Our comptroller (tiny trade association) writes me and says "did your card get cancelled". Not knowing what the hell he was talking about I say "not to my knowledge".

You would think this dingleberry would move heaven and earth to cancel my card after $600 worth of items were purchased from a Philly's Pep Boys, and before last week's $400 purchases from a Philly Rite-Aid. Instead he just lets Mastercard call me while on vacation and assume I'll answer it.

He reads the statements, address it ASAP!