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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:
bringbacksideburns · 14/04/2019 18:51

I find it amusing. It's very look at me, look at me! Aren't I clever?? Aren't I a bit superior?

The only people I knew who did this had two things in common - they were unpleasant people with self esteem issues.
One in particular insisted on doing it on everything and I used to joke all that was missing was his blue Peter badge.
People like this don't realise they are coming across as self important and that actually, a hell of a lot of people do have letters after our names but don't feel the need to shout about it Hmm

SW6mama · 14/04/2019 18:58

The fact you feel it is an aggressive move highlights that your reaction is based on insecurity. You feel he is judging you. He probably isn’t. He sounds like he is a bit of a twat, but in turn your reaction to his performance sounds like it is coloured by this and you could be being a bit judgy with him. Make sure as the senior of the two that you are being impartial, don’t be harder on him. Be nice to him, encourage him, tell him he’s good at something, a much more powerful and stylish way of establishing authority than criticising...

LouJJersey · 14/04/2019 19:02

Why not just have a catch up session with him and say “oh, by the way, it’s out company style only to put x and y in our email signatures, we don’t do a,b and c”

LouJJersey · 14/04/2019 19:03

Just as an aside.... in my role I work with doctors and other health and social care professionals and it’s quite normal to see “letters after a name”

SweetPetrichor · 14/04/2019 19:20

I wouldn't think anything of an email signature like his. Our standard company signature style includes name, full role, qualifications and professional body info. You work hard for the 'letters after your name'...no harm in using them.

VerbenaGirl · 14/04/2019 19:29

You could implement a standardised email sign off for the whole team, based on corporate guidelines and steer him towards that? We had a mum at my DD primary school that used to do this on everyday informal emails between parents! We still chuckle about it now...

Mrsuniquename · 14/04/2019 19:31

I suspect it's something that was common at his previous job and he hasn't twigged that people at his new workplace sign emails differently. I really feel for the guy if people are poking fun at him behind his back and his manager is letting that happen. Is he arrogant or just a bit immature? Is it only MSc/MA that the poor guy is writing that the OP objects to? Does he include the degree title? I presume he's allowed the write his name and job title? If it's really making him the subject of ridicule then I think you should say something OP as it's not nice if people are bitching behind his back. Even if you think it will make you sound petty it's your duty to support your staff and I am sure you can tell him in a nice way.

dorisdog · 14/04/2019 19:39

At first I was thinking 'what a dick,' then I was thinking, it would actually be very useful to know what everyone's degree, or other qualifications we're at my work place! (As long as it didn't feel competitive.)

BedraggledBlitz · 14/04/2019 19:40

I have a colleague who has written BA Hons after his name in his signature. We don't work in an environment where it is of any relevance. I think it is wanky.

AndIWon · 14/04/2019 19:41

Last place I worked you had to have your credentials in your email sig as only certain levels of people were allowed (by law) to send certain emails.

WutheringBites · 14/04/2019 19:42

Oh fuck it. This thread has been an education. I have lots of academic qualifications and I’ve always bloody put them after my email signature. I’d never ever twigged it was anything other than completely normal. But then I’ve always worked in academia/medicine.

Part of me is now worried that people have been judging me for it; part is Hmm because I worked bloody hard and I think it’s cool to own it.

Has anyone else seen #likealadydoctor on twitter?

Sometimes I really wish British culture was more transparent. Sad

bevelino · 14/04/2019 19:42

The OP needs to say what industry she is in because in certain jobs it is the norm to place qualifications in your email signature.

It seems to me that the OP feels threatened and jealous of her employees qualifications otherwise she would not have started this thread.

stargazerlil · 14/04/2019 19:43

I would be interested to know apart from the wanky signature how else he is he knob? Does he act as though he is entitled?
Women how rise to positions of power often have to do it whilst working harder than all the men around them, while also acting as though they aren't bothered about promotion to appease wanky male bosses who's egos also have to be stroked even through they often aren't as intelligent or useful as the extra hard working woman who has to hide her light so the males light can shine.
Is this the trigger?

purplepandas · 14/04/2019 19:48

Wuthering, I actually think it is different in academia. It's expected. I work there too and people do. That's the nature of the beast. I think it is so context dependent personally. Saying that, I do see some bad ones (not about quals!)

daisypond · 14/04/2019 19:56

I think part of the issue is that the employee thinks he’s better than everyone else by making it obvious he has a degree and he assumes other people in the company don’t and he should therefore be on some fast track to promotion. Whereas the actual company culture is that everyone has at least one degree and probably most have a higher degree but they don’t refer to them because they’re not directly relevant to their job. That’s how it is in the company I work for.

WutheringBites · 14/04/2019 19:58

purple I hope so.

Plus I’m now a dr. And I do like that I get to have a gender neutral title. This makes me just a bit happy (everyone else can judge me all they like for it).

Just hope that teachers, etc don’t think I’m ‘wanky’. Blush

MrsBadcrumble123 · 14/04/2019 20:02

If they are proud of their achievements and it’s relevent to job role then be grown ups and get on with your day Wink - doesn’t matter in grand scheme of things

Sparklykittycat · 14/04/2019 20:02

I’m sure he worked extremely hard to achieve a masters degree so it does seem slightly absurd that you would be “enraged” and I think you knew that before even posting the thread as you also mentioned that you’re aware that it is highly irrational by the title of your thread. I’m sure there are other things you could focus your energy on within the company which would probably make it a lovely/less stressful environment to work in. It seems petty and immature to be so worked up over something so minuscule.

purplepandas · 14/04/2019 20:08

Nah, I doubt it wuthering. I often email school from my work account (also with Dr in title) as it is just quite frankly way easier than annoying gmail. I always sign off with my parent name though and try not to be 'wanky'. Congrats on what is sounding like a new Dr title!

Love your username btw, totally love WH!

Doubletrouble99 · 14/04/2019 20:09

I would tell him it's not the company culture and to remove it as not appropriate.

Banana1984 · 14/04/2019 20:14

So what if he wants to. I'm sure he is aware there are others more qualified Than him. Doctors nurses and many business professionals all put their qualifications next to their name Your priority is that he is doing his job right not his signature. You sound childish.. Nothing like a manager. Besides this most organisations have a standard signature maybe send an email around the office letting them know how you would like all the signatures. Grow up

SelkieCoisFarraige · 14/04/2019 20:31

Your very first response on this thread said it best!!

GabsAlot · 14/04/2019 20:34

he sounds like a right twat ignore some of thses posts they just want to put the knife in

vintanner · 14/04/2019 21:14

You as his line manager are responsible for any new member of staff knowing the 'dos and don'ts' within the workplace.

If you leave them to their own devices they can only do what they have done in their previous workplace.

If the emails are only internal and more senior people become aware, they will assume you haven't trained your staff correctly.

I agree with PlantPotParrot, it isn't professional of you to be calling a member of your staff names in public.

Yb23487643 · 14/04/2019 21:31

You & your workplace do sound like a bunch of bullies tbh, it’s really not important or worth getting upset over. It’s sad that person is being talked about behind their back over an e mail signature... does not sound friendly or inclusive at all. It is v British to be all coy about achievements which is very weird really.