I have a question that I need help with. It involves e-mail etiquette, so there may not be a correct answer.
When is it appropriate to start the flame war by cc'ing the higher-ups?
I got a e-mail last week from someone in payroll or billing or something, I'd never heard of her. (for a company that has never had anyone leave, we sure have a lot of turn over) She immediately starts in with "You messed up your two time sheets. they don't match. You need to fix it. We ask everyone to assure they match, and you didn't. arrg arrg arrg." (or something to that effect.) Who cares right? Problem is she CC'ed my supervisors and some upper-ups in the company.
Now if some one CC's your boss after repeatedly attempting to get you to rectify a problem that makes sense, but this was straight out of the gate.
So I was at least smart enough to be professional in my response:
"It looks like the discrepancy is 1 hour.
The (first time sheet) section of the spreadsheet you sent does not reflect an entry in (Second time sheet) for 1 hour on Tuesday, between 1400 and 1500 for an all hands Conference call. This entry is listed as non-billable on the (second time sheet)entry that day and is categorized as: 'Administrative General Participant.'
That may be the missing hour."
I have already complained about the ridiculousness of having two time sheet systems. This error on her part was a direct result of having to compare data in the two systems. This is just a minor oversight on her part. But she came charging out of the gate with no build-up. I think that is inappropriate. I went ahead and CC'ed my response to that same people she did. This seem appropriate.
Interestingly she has not responded.
First of all, don't mess with me, my ship is tight.
Second, how about giving a brother a chance to look at something before jumping his train?
Third, I hope publicizing your error and forcing me to show your bosses that you screwed-up backfired.
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According to Emily Posting, you responded accordingly. She may have been directed by her higher-ups to cc supervisors (given the Reich you work for, I wouldn't doubt it...). Where I work, there is a certain idiot who doesnt know how to do his job, yet is fairly high up there. He always includes the highest level of management in his emails when he thinks he has typed something profound or that will show he really is doing his job. Generally my boss (who is also his boss) will immediately begin poking holes and pointing out the stupidity of what he has typed, and responds to everyone he has cc'd. Very enteraining.
ReplyDeleteIt is alway appropriate to respond all, less you be made to look like more of an ass than the originator of the email by not responding. Just don't ever hit "reply all" without taking a break, reading and re-reading what you have written. It never looks good to continue an e-war in plain view of the uppity-ups.