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?

I'd send it to all 72 and politely point our the error isn't your responsibility. I wouldn't want 72 people thinking I made a mistake, unless they know it wasn't yours?

This is your chance to prove to the 72 that you have management potential far superior to the manager who has belittled you. Don't waste it. I know it's horrible but believe me, this is one of the situations you can turn to your advantage.
RISE ABOVE, be polite, be professional, no tricks like blind copying, be TOTALLY above board and irreproachable. Do not respond in kind. You are better than that and your task now is to prove it to everyone.

Dear ...
Thank you for your helpful input.
I'm sure you are aware that I have no means to check the data provided and so I think the best way forward is for me to take it up directly and privately with the owner of the data.
Kind regards,

@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 would send this to everyone -I wouldn't place the blame for the error on any individual, even if you know who it is. anyone can make a mistake.

But I would add a line to the effect that if anyone notices any errors to inform you privately so that you can contact the appropriate department and ask them to check their figures, and then send out an erratum if appropriate.

I want to know which culture means you can act like a dickhead.

I am of the opinion of also sending her a private email asking why she was contacting you and not the department responsible for the figures in the first place.

Joking aside - don’t do anything for the moment. I can almost guarantee that, as it stands everyone thinks she is a twat. However almost any response is going to switch that to people being
A) annoyed that their time is being wasted by being copied in on this
Or
B) breaking out the popcorn to see what happens next

Pick it up privately with whoever you have to and just reissue the report. Behind the cc’s everyone will say what a Wally she is.

Excellent advice from Squirrel.

My only concern is that TwatManager will probably find some way to say "you SHOULD have picked up on that data error" and imply that you're at fault for not spotting it.

Technically it may not be your responsibility, but I would want to have a response prepared on this point, to keep you on the front foot.

TwatManagers are sadly common and they'll always have highly developed skills in making other people look like they're at fault

It says a lot more about the manager who sent that than you, even if you had made the mistake.

The senior manager is a class A prick. I say that and work in HR.

It’s appalling behaviour. I’d wait to see if anyone else replies before you do. Just hold out. Then reply with what @NoSquirrels said.

I would simply email your line manager and ask them to step in.

Everyone will know what a bully she is.

Do you have to reply at all?

I dealt with someone like this for years - sending aggressive/angry emails, often inaccurate, cc’ing others.

I chased the ball for years, usually sending the perfect, polite, patient replies correcting their misinformation.

One day I walked into my manager’s office and said I’m not replying to these anymore unless you tell me I need to do so. He agreed.

Now I read and hit delete. It’s awesome! So freeing and the person seems to have figured out I’m not playing the game anymore.

If it’s a real issue I get it sorted out and send a brand new email to anyone that needs the info.

@Ninkanink

I’d tell her that was RUDE and cc everyone as well.

You wouldn't really though would you?

@GabsAlot

agree with hannayeah. I wouldn't dignify that with a response. You won't be the first she's done this to, and you won't be the last. People will be thinking 'urgh she's at it again' and thinking badly of her, not you.

@CcWanker

She is well known for being a dick.

She once emailed a colleague to ask them if they could read. Seriously.

Oh god I'm glad she's not my boss. Boss or Not, there's no way I could keep it professional if somebody is that rude and nasty

I would reply all and explain that you collate the data which is sent to you and circulate. You will contact the person responsible for that item of data separately for a correction. Don’t name names and drop someone else in it. I would add that any further correction requests should be emailed to you directly. I would do it now rather than wait as the longer you leave it the longer people will have to think of you as having made a mistake which can rightly or wrongly (wrongly) colour their impression of you.

I think it’s terrible when people get away with treating others like this because weak management don’t want to deal with it and make a flimsy excuse or say they’ve dealt with it when they clearly haven’t as it keeps happening. It doesn’t surprise me though as bad managers are everywhere.

I disagree with all the PPs saying to Bcc rather than cc. It’s helpful to know who emails have gone to. Someone at my place insists on bcc’ing the recipients of her emails and it’s maddening. Who have you told? Who in my team who need to know this have been informed and who hasn’t been? Do I need to prise a recipient list from you or shall I just forward to the whole team to tell the people you’ve missed? Gah!

I would send No Squirrel's message but with a note saying "sorry for such a wide circulation list but as so many people were cc'd I have assumed you would like hear my response - please let us know if you want to be removed from future emails on this matter" thereby making it clear that you've noticed all the cc's.

And then email the sender separately and say that you expect her to advise you privately of any errors in future and if she pulls a stunt like that again you will be involving HR/her manager.

@Eddielzzard

agree with hannayeah. I wouldn't dignify that with a response. You won't be the first she's done this to, and you won't be the last. People will be thinking 'urgh she's at it again' and thinking badly of her, not you.

And everyone likely already knows

• OP just collates the data
• The mistake is minor and immaterial
• Other person is rude and dramatic and likes kicking people who are junior to her that cannot respond in kind
• How to get corrections made without sending rude emails

Replying to all just makes it more awkward for everyone.

Explaining all of the above to 71 people who don’t really need the info is a bit like hanging a sign in the shared office kitchen for everyone because one person is a rude kitchen pig.

OP is Sunday a regular working day for you? Because if it’s not it’s very poor form on the part of the sender IMO.

I guess depending on how things are done in your organisation, cc’ing 72 people isn’t really on.

From the outside given the timing and her actions, is she trying to bully you perhaps? Sometimes people think they are being smart and subtle in trying to undermine others but it is glaringly obvious what their intentions are to others.

(I wouldn’t actually do that! But I’d want to. 😉😄)

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

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

Yup - I know. Makes me cringe. And I remind myself of it every time I'm about to send an angry email. Seriously I'm really glad someone slapped me for it.

"And then email the sender separately and say that you expect her to advise you privately of any errors in future and if she pulls a stunt like that again you will be involving HR/her manager."

The person is a senior manager and OP is at the bottom of the hierarchy. She can't threaten to report the senior person.

How much do you charge for writing emails for people, @NoSquirrels?! Because I need your services several times a week.
That is the perfect response.

Don't reply all.
Speak to your line manager first thing tomorrow and make them deal with the rude manager and advise you on how to issue the corrected report and what to include with it.
Don't do anything without talking to your line manager, they should fight this for you. If they won't/ can't go to another suitable manager.
Good luck, it's shitty getting emails like that.

Use this an as opportunity to show how dignified and professional you are. Whilst also highlighting that she's not.

Also change the subject line to:

You're a TWAT, colleague. A TWAT.