Top 3 ways e-mail annoys co-workers

August 8, 2008 by
Filed under: Employee computer use, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views 

Of all the ways e-mail can annoy people, here are the top 3 that e-etiquette experts warn against:

1. The passive aggressive cc:

This is when you send a copy of a message to someone who doesn’t really need to see it — in order to send a subtle message to the person.

For example: An employee e-mails a co-worker, asking her to do something. To make sure she really pays attention, he copies the boss on the e-mail.

Wrong move, experts say. Only include people who really need to see the message.

2. Hitting — or not hitting — ‘Reply all’

Depending on the situation, choosing whether to “Reply” or “Reply all” can be a big decision. It’s equally annoying for co-workers to get an unnecessary message as it to miss something they should’ve been included in.

The solution: Think before you click. The mistake is usually just the result of someone responding too quickly.

3. All-caps for any reason

This one is well-know, but bears repeating. Putting a word or two in capitals can provide needed emphasis. Writing a whole e-mail in caps is like shouting in someone’s face.

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Comments

8 Comments on Top 3 ways e-mail annoys co-workers

  1. Sue Grandgeorge on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 1:51 pm

    2. I can understand the first two as annoying…but, number 3? Just get over it. I have a feeling that if you are being yelled at you’ll know it in lower case, too.

  2. Keith Hamm, SPHR on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 3:08 pm

    3. I’ve rec’d a LOT of e-mail from applicants (from our website’s online application especially) that have NO capital letters! Not even their own name or the job title. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially if they also don’t use any punctuation. Those applications get screened out. The philospohy is simple: if they can’t be bothered to enter the information on an online application from which they wish to get a job correctly, then how would they complete any paperwork required of them once they get hired? I’ve been told that this is a result of people simply being used to text messaging on cell phones and thus dropping capitals, but I don’t buy it. I have to admit that I have occasionally replied to these applicants using no capitals (including their names) and no punctuation as well.

  3. RichardParker on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 3:50 pm

    4. We always screen out applicants that can’t capitalize correctly, such as random capitalizations, no caps and especially “i”. When it comes to all caps in a work email, I find the people who do that are self-conscious of their writing and punctuation skills, and they think this shields them. Some work environments put less emphasis on this type of thing.
    Your three examples are all annoying but not as evil as the BCC.

  4. Deb on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 4:47 pm

    5. The BCC thing and all caps is really annoying. Our Company owner/boss does both: he BCCs “everyone on the planet” and he shouts a lot (all caps.) We’ve told him time and again that it’s very annoying, and to STOP already. He’s a little better now, but I still don’t trust him on the BCC thing. Now, if I have something to tell him that’s in any way sensitive, I tell him in person or on the phone. We’ve had a least on person leave because she didn’t appreciate being yelled at in an email ahd then finding out that everyone was BCCed.

    One learns to use email carefully — with certain people in a certain way.

  5. Heather on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 5:01 pm

    6. I REALLY REALLY HATE IT WHEN SOMEONE TYPES IN ALL CAPS. IT IS JUST AS ANNOYING AS IF ONE CHANGED THE FONT TO SOME BRIGHT FONT COLOR. IT’S JUST DISTRACTING. I’M NOT YELLING OR UPSET, BY THE WAY. ;)

  6. Linda Johnson on Tue, 12th Aug 2008 5:29 pm

    7. Number one is especially true and I agree with the “reply all” over usage. All caps? Our client database requires all caps entry so I’m less sensitive to folks who forget to turn it off for an email message. Those who cc: my boss go to the bottom of the “to-do”list. I also dismiss applicants who cannot or will not use appropriate capitalization and punctuation in their request to be considered for a position.

  7. Rose on Thu, 14th Aug 2008 3:35 pm

    8. I have learned with some people if you don’t cc: the boss, it won’t get done. I have a secretary that is shared by both myself and my boss, but if I don’t include him on everything I ask her to do, it won’t get done. That in itself is frustrating.

    I don’t see much along the lines of capital letters, but I get annoyed when people can’t take the time to make sure their messages are grammatically correct!!

  8. Deacon Eisenhart on Tue, 16th Sep 2008 3:32 pm

    9. I didn’t hear any mention of the importance flag being set in an email. I communicate with several people via email that always enter my inbox with an EXCLAMATION! for the importance flag because they decided to set it by default in their mail client. Would be better off used as needed.