Why do people do this? And how do you respond?

[Coffeetree]

I like where I work, but here's a weird thing that often happens.

Person A says "Please would tell Person B [technical inquiry or info]."

I know this is appropriate when it's a question of remit or hierarchy (I.e., the lead tech person needs to be the one putting out info about new tech system, or the director doesn't want to get caught up in something so she asks you to respond.)

But that's not what's happening here. I'm talking about people who are on the same "level" in the same team continually sending messages round this way. What is that about?

I got another one of these just this morning, not from my boss,and I responded, "Looks good. I'm in meetings all morning so would yiu be able to tell X yourself in case she's got a follow up question?" I feel like I've violated some unspoken rule!

That does sound funny. I haven't come across it at work.

Do a lot of people do this or just one / a few? I’d think that Person A was being a bit self important - giving other people instructions to make it look like they’re senior.

Is it an in joke, a passive aggressive dig, or did person B ask for the info? In any case it sounds tedious.

I wonder if they don't get along or something!

I've started pushing back as above. I'm in a temp contract ending in 6 weeks, which they know.

There's a handful of people who do it.

The same handful also have a weird habit of sending out emails to one or more people with imperatives in the passive voice. E.g., "X needs to be done." I assume they're hoping for someone to volunteer? It's not something that's obviously in a certain person's remit. I did volunteer when I was new, but then I ended up doing extra things outside my JD that my boss hadn't asked for. Now I just ignore, because they're not my boss and aren't actually asking me to do something. So the person is sending out an email to like six people saying "x needs to be chased" and no one is responding. It's weird.

It is probably good it is only a temp job. Your coworkers appear to be very high maintenance

I had this in an old job, being asked to take mail to the post room by someone on the same band as me (and in post for 2m rather than my 7ish years) or do a stationery cupboard run. Had to make excuses like "oh sorry, don't have any plans to be on that floor today, maybe you could take it on your way out if you don't have time now?". Exhausting but I knew they'd be a CF and not reciprocate if I did them a favour.

Yeah maybe it's a power play?

I had a colleague who would do this in emails sometimes, say something needs to be done but no indication as to who was being asked to do it on the email distribution list. In the end I just ignored the emails. She had form for sending long emails that basically said nothing and I think were more for her benefit than they were ours.