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Original poster

Irrationally enraged by colleague's email signature, or is it inappropriate?

383 replies

Peakhim · 13/04/2019 08:32

I have a newish colleague who has his email set up to give his full name, degree achieved (masters) followed by his full job title. This comes up in all internal emails and his job rarely involves sending external ones.

I think it's wanky and actually rude. No one else does it and many have more qualifications than him. People even comment on it and poke fun. I hoped he would notice by now that it's not done and take it down. It doesn't help that it comes up in really big letters after his normal sign off.

I'm his line manager and wonder whether to tell him to take it off but things aren't going well with him overall so I don't want it to look petty or like bullying.

But fuck, who does that??

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 13/04/2019 08:34

Let him leave it.

It's a useful signal that he's a knob

ReallyReallyNo · 13/04/2019 08:35

Yes leave it, much better for people to be aware he’s a bellend.

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 13/04/2019 08:35

This would annoy me too

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 13/04/2019 08:36

What kind of things aren't going well overall?

I wouldn't be enraged but I would be weirded out and might mention the standard signature style the organization uses.

We all have to have accessible font with a certain size of type, for example.

Bayleyf · 13/04/2019 08:36

Full job title seems totally normal to me, but degree would be a bit try-hard.

But either way, as his manager it's your job to make sure he understands the company culture, which he clearly doesn't at the moment.

It wouldn't be petty or bullying at all to point that out!

JenniferJareau · 13/04/2019 08:36

I'm glad we have standard signatures where I work.

Maybe ask him why he includes it? Does he have a big ego, small ego or feels he us not taken seriously? That would be the key as to how I would address the issue.

PinkiOcelot · 13/04/2019 08:36

It just makes him look like a proper prick. Rise above and ignore. Difficult I know!

FindYourCentre · 13/04/2019 08:36

We do that where I work. You will come off petty if you bring it up

ElspethFlashman · 13/04/2019 08:36

Leave it. It's so silly, but it's only himself that looks stupid.

Eventually someone will tease him about it on a work night out and it'll suddenly disappear.

StoorieHoose · 13/04/2019 08:37

We have a few people who do that in our organisation - good indicator that they are a knob so you are doing a public service by not asking him to change it

Waterfallgirl · 13/04/2019 08:37

I can see it’s annoying, esoecially when others around have more qualifications and it appears as he boasting .
We have a ‘standard’ e mail signature format in our business, can you do the same? Although, if you are his line manager you could just tell him that his approach is out of step with the norm,and ask him to change it.

Marchitectmummy · 13/04/2019 08:37

Why are you so upset by it? Perhaps he had to put it on his last place of work or perhaps he is just very proud.

Why not just be friendly and point out no one else puts theirs on or ask why he wants it on?

Really it sounds like a bit of jealousy and insecurity on your part. Do you have the same qualifications?

BasilBrushes · 13/04/2019 08:38

I find it even more strange when people have their qualifications after their name on Facebook.

saraclara · 13/04/2019 08:39

It's entirely normal for many companies. Presumably he's come from such a place and is simply doing what was expected of him there.

You don't have to get arsey with him about it. Simply point out kindly that in your office signatures aren't done this way.

IvanaPee · 13/04/2019 08:40

I would think it weird but it wouldn’t upset me or enrage me!

conflicted1234 · 13/04/2019 08:40

Why is it a problem? In our workplace pretty much everyone has their job title and phone number as part of their signature and some do put their 'letters after their name' too. I never really saw it as boastful, maybe just something he's done before. Or he's really proud?

I wouldn't see it as an issue unless he'd put something really daft like 'international man of mystery' as part of his signature.

KOKOtiltomorrow · 13/04/2019 08:40

It's standard practice in my field to list your qualifications after your name in email signature. Personally I find it wanky but it's the done thing.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 13/04/2019 08:41

Ah the good old UK where achievement and education are ridiculed, hand in hand with hysterical parents trying by any means fair or foul to get Johnny into a grammar/faith/private school …… God forbid he comes out the ends with a qualification …...

Zilla1 · 13/04/2019 08:41

If other people have commented and he's chosen not to amend it then I would be tempted to leave it. If he moves or is managed out then it won't make much difference.

If you wanted to be kind, you could ask him who else in your workplace includes that information on their emails and what he expects to achieve. It doesn't sound like it would change his thinking.

Most places I've worked would have gone childish quite quickly
Joan Blogs
Cycling Proficiency (Distinction)

I meet several people who insist in using professional accolades outside their originating places (academic - professor, Dr, military retired - Rear Admiral...) and don't realise most people could and don't.

MiniEggAddiction · 13/04/2019 08:41

I would cringe but it wouldn't annoy me. I think it's fine to point out kindly that in this company signatures aren't generally done like this.

hsegfiugseskufh · 13/04/2019 08:42

Why is it rude?

Tbh you sound like youve got an issue with him not his signature.

Be careful calling one of your staff "wanky and rude" on a public forum. Not very professional.

sackrifice · 13/04/2019 08:43

If things are not going well, concentrate on that.

thedevilinablackdress · 13/04/2019 08:44

Quite normal in a lot of industries / workplaces. As a manager you perhaps should point out that it is out of step with your workplace culture. And try to be less annoyed about. It's not likely that he's doing it 'at' you.

SovereignIndividual · 13/04/2019 08:44

To be honest it sounds like you have a problem with this guy, Is he more qualified then you or starting to out perform you?

saraclara · 13/04/2019 08:44

"I've noticed that you add a qualifications and job role signature to your email. Although I gather that's the norm in some places, it's not something we do here. It would be best if you deleted it I think, as it somewhat jars with our company ethos. Don't worry about it - it's not a big deal. It just doesn't really work here"