What do you make of this email response

[Yikitty]

Email sent by newish member of staff to senior staff member - 4 others cc’d in

Reasonable run of the mill email - enquiring about confirming a date. Email first line is “I hope you are well”

response:

”You don’t need to ask me if I am well every-time you email me unless you know something I don’t. Yes”

And then you get the people who get offended if you don't open with a line like this. Honestly you can't win with this stuff. You write it, you don't write it. Someone's nose will be put out of joint

It comes across as rude, however, it could be that they were trying to say that you don't have to be so polite with them and can be mpre relaxed. It could have been intended to be a bit lighthearted, but the trouble with emails is that it's extremely hard to tell.

What about if they say "Hey... hope you're well..."? 😁

why is it ridiculous and makes you cringe?!

I may do this to balance the bluntness of not hoping they're well 😁

Just because it’s a work colleague, doesn’t mean you don’t have to be polite or hope that they are well. This thread is ridiculous and reading how managers would grade someone down because they found them annoying is particularly odd and much more unprofessional than someone saying ‘Hope you’re well’ on an email 🙃

Just how it annoys some people here that people put in three extra words on an email - I find it particularly rude and annoying when people email me with bluntness. It’s mostly men and it does my head in. IMO it’s an old fashioned way of conversing at work and times are different now.

It's a really annoying opener so I'd secretly applaud the person who wrote this. Personally I avoid all pleasantries and get down to business.

I'd she was on my team I would issue her with a written warning and a second offence would get fired.

There are basics of behaviour when you were working in a corporate. If you can't manage that then find a manual job in a supermarket.

You’re joking aren’t you?

It is supposed to be a statement though not a question.

16 pages in and no reply from the OP.

How f**king rude. 😄

I don't take offence if someone asks if I'm well, but once had a quiet chat with a much younger colleague to say "you genuinely don't need to open with "I hope you are well" every time on every channel, let's work from the assumption that I am yeah?".

Didn’t you feel like a complete idiot?

I am not responsible for other people's triggers and neuroses when reading a completely inoffensive nicety on an email.

I disagree with the advice to "not respond but do not write it again". Why? It's your style of email, it is not "forbidden" by your company in any way and there's no rule you need to change it. Your colleague sounds very controlling. Show your boundaries by not acknowledging the rudeness (I would be forwarding the email to boss plus HR though, I have very little patience for rudeness) and continue to write your emails in whichever way you see fit.

The emails are ones which go out to the whole department or Faculty, so they aren't personal. They often start with the phrase as a question "I hope you are well?" it's unnecessary and really, a wee bit unprofessional, and annoying. The sender doesn't really care - it's an attempt to sound collegial maybe, but it's a bit like using "myself" or "yourself" in an attempt to sound official.

Because it’s meaningless, insincere and wastes time.

Obviously it's rude. But what's worse is the way it was done.

Senior staff member = power imbalance
Other staff = embarrassing

Also worse due to you being a new member of staff and finding your feet.

I'd possibly speak to line manager if appropriate. Or I would respond with'duly noted' and move on. I'd probably leave pleasantries off emails going forward unless someone does it to you.

And keep a log that manager is a dick!

Bloody effing rude!! I work for a corporate company and that’s a pretty standard line with a few variations in between. Respect works both ways regardless if it’s brazen words coming from a senior colleague.

I’d handball that to HR to deal with immediately. Rude snot.

Masterclass level, guffaw.

maybe in the imaginary world of MN but not in real life it isn't, it's equally as socially inept as the senior manager they would be trying to get back at. Petty and pointless.

because I’ve known these people for years, socialised with them, chat to them about their kids / holidays / weekend plans and genuinely care about the answers. They do the same back to me. I hope that answers your query.

Im not asking random strangers random questions. My business is built on these strong relationships and “niceties” - maybe why I keep clients for decades?

but yeah, each to their own. I personally don’t like doing business without a little personality along the way. You do, both fine.

I wouldn’t call out anyone who wanted to ask me how how I was, in business or anywhere else. That’s just rude.

It wastes your time and the recipient's.

It takes seconds. No one is that busy.

If I was the OP I’d be tempted to reply “Frankly I couldn’t give a stuff if you’re well or about to kark it. It’s just something people say. Get a grip and get on with responding to the actual point”. In reality, however, I think the best thing to do would be to ignore it had even happened and keep any future emails very, very basic. I wouldn’t be bothering to share pleasantries in person either.

This thread is nuts 🤣

Posts going on about it wasting time....it takes 1 second. Maybe those posters need to look at improving their time management?

Why should she? She gave the colleague good advice, and she did it privately.

I think the senior staff’s response was rude but saying ‘I hope you’re well’ in every interaction is not going to do you any favours in the workplace.

But your situation is entirely different to the one in the OP.

Next time the email should just say

[Manager name]

Blah blah work shit.

[Employee name]

I worked with someone who was ND and someone pulled him up on his emails being rude. After that he started every email with
I hope you are well.

You can't win and it's all bollocks. The manager needs to give himself a slap.