Woke up to an email CC’d to 72 people to tell me my work is wrong

[CcWanker]

It literally just says

“This is WRONG Jane. WRONG”

I send out a report each week to all 72 people. One of those people has found an error and replied to all 72 with the above.

The report is literally a rundown of figures sent to me from different people which I collate into this report, it’s basically a weekly sitrep.

1. the error is so minor it makes no difference to anything
2. it isn’t my error it’s the error of the person who sent me that part of the report

This report goes out to exec level people all the way down to the bottom of the food chain. The person who has cc’d everyone is a very senior manager.

Do I respond to just her or everyone and make it clear it’s not my error?

Oh and lastly if it came through overnight and you’re in the U.K. - I would also wonder if she’d had a few when she sent it to be honest.

This is clearly a situation where you have to do very little for revenge. As others have said, she has made herself look like a massive dick and everyone else is seeing and thinking that.

Don't reply until Monday min-morning, to a)show how trivial and unimportant her childish retort is and b) to give it more time for what a dick she is to bed in.

Then reply with one of the brief emails below saying thanks for pointing out, please remember to correct your data before you send it to me as I have no way to validate it etc etc

Cultural? I’m not sure in which culture rudeness is encouraged (except maybe the Trump administration?) but that’s a cop out from management. Poor show. I would agree with the other suggestion about BCC’ing everyone but that might not be what you’ve been asked to do. When I worked in a law firm we had a pop up when you replied all to ask if that’s really what you meant to do - excellent idea.

Agree with pp, but also look up the company’s values, which will be on the website, normally things including respect, integrity, and their ‘code of conduct’. This applies to everyone whatever your background. Quote it and throw it back at her. She’s management and should know better.

@NoSquirrels

I might reply with something like

Thanks for noting that, RudeManager.

Could I please ask that everyone double-checks their data before sending through as I collate what’s sent in to me but have no way of checking for accuracy of figures provided.

Many thanks,

Jane

Yes this is a great response. It highlights your role in the piece of work (and that this wasn't your fault), without saying anything that she can pull you up on. If I was CC'd into something like this and then read the response I would think that the person who sent it to you was very innapropriate. You could also say as another PP suggested, that any issues are highlighted individually.

@NoSquirrels

I might reply with something like

Thanks for noting that, RudeManager.

Could I please ask that everyone double-checks their data before sending through as I collate what’s sent in to me but have no way of checking for accuracy of figures provided.

Many thanks,

Jane

This is perfectly done. OP, I would send this and then respond to nothing further - big step back from any further nonsense.

Once you know what the error is I would reply all and clarify. I would state clearly that it is an isolated error due to incorrect information provided however it does not impact the overall findings of the report. I would discuss the communication with your manager and highlight that this method of identifying an error is inefficient, and perhaps discuss communication of errors being directed to the department responsible for them as there is nothing you can do about them.

So do you know what the error is without seeing the new data?

Does that mean if you had paid more attention maybe you'd have picked the error up by yourself?

I don't agree with the way she has worded her email but if it is a simple thing that was obviously wrong and noticeable I'd expect the person collecting the data to notice too.

NoSquirrels reply is perfect. Does the manager have form for this sort of thing?

I would also set up an out of office message on your email if your manager is in the habit of sending snotty weekend emails when you work Monday to Friday.

Definitely send @NoSquirrels response.

Reply to all saying if the person would like to point out which part of the data supplied to you (and which you simply collated) is incorrect, then you will ask the person who supplied it to rectify the matter.

Another vote for NoSquirrels response and cc your LM (along with the others!), if they weren't already included. You are not in the wrong here and I sorry, culture has nothing to do with it, that's bloody rude.

Some of the suggested replies are really pompous. OP, whatever you do, don't rush to reply to that e-mail, really don't. Nobody on this board will be taking the flak for what you write.

What a nob. My first port of call here would be your line manager, I’d probably plan to reply along the lines Nosquirrels suggests, but running it past your line manager will ensure you have senior backup if necessary.

Sounds like this person has quite the reputation, so a polite slap down should do you no harm.

@NoSquirrels

I might reply with something like

Thanks for noting that, RudeManager.

Could I please ask that everyone double-checks their data before sending through as I collate what’s sent in to me but have no way of checking for accuracy of figures provided.

Many thanks,

Jane

Great answer.

And @GabsAlot wtf?

Everyone will know that she’s a twat, in your reply all be super breezy, thank her for spotting it and say that you have contacted the error maker and that everyone is to be assured that the error is minor and that the world isn’t ending. Be super cheery

I'd tell her to get lost it's Sunday.
Unless of course it's one of your working days.

I will sort that IMMEDIATELY, Betty. IMMEDIATELY

“Thanks for letting me know. Would you like me to liaise with the person responsible for the element that needs correcting or will you do so directly?”

Then maybe a separate email to the 72/all that feed data in pleasantly clarifying the how people should submit any corrections to you.

How mean you must have come across @SmudgeButt - a real bully.

I assume people know you just collate the info @CcWanker?

I'd be inclined to email my line manager / next in line to me, just to make sure they understand that you are not at fault.

"NoSquirrels

I might reply with something like

Thanks for noting that, RudeManager.

Could I please ask that everyone double-checks their data before sending through as I collate what’s sent in to me but have no way of checking for accuracy of figures provided.

Many thanks,

Jane

This is perfectly done. OP, I would send this and then respond to nothing further - big step back from any further nonsense."

I don't think this reply is perfect tbh. It's slightly passive aggressive towards everyone else with the 'Could I please ask...' . I'd prefer something more like 'Thank you for pointing this out. I'll get back to the people who gave me the data..."

Or, depending on the company, it might not be appropriate to answer the senior manager at all, as someone pointed out above and it might be better for OP's line manager to respond if he/she is supportive.

I also don't agree with the pp who said to send a reply to the senior manager and cc that person's line manager. I can't see the bigger boss being very impressed with an email from somebody at the bottom being copied to them and the rude person is a senior manager so probably not closely supervised by anyone.

If I was going to avoid the 'reply to all' route (I get the point that some people will be annoyed by this, but I also think some of the 72 are probably interested) I would reply to rude manager and MY line manger, not theirs.

@NoSquirrels

I might reply with something like

Thanks for noting that, RudeManager.

Could I please ask that everyone double-checks their data before sending through as I collate what’s sent in to me but have no way of checking for accuracy of figures provided.

Many thanks,

Jane

I agree with this. Reply this to all.