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

[Peakhim]

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??

downcasteyes

Very interesting!

I am probably a little unfairly prejudiced against PhD Doctorates, because of the fool I work with who makes such a parade of his. He waves it about as if it qualifies him in all areas.

I also realised just how relevant continued practice is of the discipline, as we actually had a meeting with one of his old contemporaries who has still been engaged with the discipline, and he was correcting our guy all over the place - either he has forgotten information or it has become out of date.

I actually only found out that another man in his department had a PhD after he'd worked with us for two years - and he was streets ahead of our (sadly immovable) employee!

"I do wonder actually where PhDs in social science are more highly regarded than medical degrees."

Because the standard medical degree (not the MD and not the PhD) is seen as foundational - the vocational 'basics' to practice competently. An MD or PhD is a lot more specialist and research-oriented - it's supposed to be defined by making an original contribution to global knowledge not by competence to practice. I think most doctors would probably recognise a difference between a PhD and an MB BChir???

Of course, qualifications are just a bit of paper at the end of the day. As soon as people have their research career launched and going, they really cease to be anything other than an expected launchpad. As an academic or a top-flight consultant, you're not going to be judged by the fact that you got a PhD umpteen moons ago, but by what you've done in terms of research, writing, practice, impact.

Because the standard medical degree (not the MD and not the PhD) is seen as foundational - the vocational 'basics' to practice competently. An MD or PhD is a lot more specialist and research-oriented - it's supposed to be defined by making an original contribution to global knowledge not by competence to practice. I think most doctors would probably recognise a difference between a PhD and an MB BChir???

Yes I am familiar with the differing educational hierarchies associated with undergraduates, postgrads and doctorates. The demands of gaining a medical degree though exceed the demands of gaining a PhD in social sciences. Getting into medicine alone sets the level of the students academic potential and achievements to that point significantly apart.

For that reason alone there is a much higher degree of prestige associated with a medical degree. It is interesting hearing from others who have a different perspective.

Why not send out a email signature template with font, size and contents outlined? Give a day to action the change and then you can pull him up on it

*an email

I’m very sorry but it sounds very immature and unprofessional of you as a manager. I agree that in the end it’s a person’s ability to do the job and to get on with their colleagues. I am not impressed by letters after someone’s name but by the fact that they have been bothered to undertake further education and training. It doesn’t matter that other colleagues may have similar or higher degrees and that they choose not to display, he has worked hard for that qualification and should feel able to display letters after his name without ridicule.

Sounds dickish to me if it's not the done thing in your industry but I'd leave him to it and try to stay out of the piss-taking. Presumably he will have noticed it's not usual but he doesn't care, just maintain your own professionalism.

I guarantee you there is not a higher prestige associated with a medical degree than with a PhD! Otherwise there would be little point in medics receiving a PhD later on in their career, on their way to becoming a consultant.

It has nothing to do with entry requirement. It has to do with what you are producing. Designing and writing a piece of independent research is seriously difficult, both psychologically and academically. No taught course could ever come close.

Like I said, though, it quickly pales into insignificance in a career. The PhD isn't really 'regarded' academically except as a starting point. Success isn't defined by what you did at 24, but by a career full of 4* REF papers and landmark books that are recognised internationally. Even within a small field, there's a huge gap in skill and intellect between the bottom and the top. Just as there is a huge gap in medicine between those at the bottom and at the top of their specialisms.

Gosh people do have comprehension problems don't they? From the start I have said he's not doing well in other areas and have mentioned that I am dealing with that, which I am, yet people are all "why don't you manage him? Deal with his issues!" Yes, I am but it doesn't mean they are magically resolved as soon as I raised them. I suppose all the perfect managers on here raise a matter and then it's sorted but that hasn't happened in this case.

I've said I won't mention it to him and I won't. Enrage was probably a poor choice of words - irritated would have been better I suppose. I wonder if people are capable of understanding that it's a little galling to read an email of errors, excuses or other shortcomings and then get to the end for a great garish signature to flash up blasting out his MA. Causes like a flash of rage but I'm not in a constant state of anger about it.

Anyway I am pleased some people can see my point of view and while I get that I may have come across as petty, it would be nice if some people could appreciate that just because someone is in the wrong in one instance it doesn't necessarily have to follow that they are a total piece of shit who is wronger than wrong could ever be about everything. I may be wrong about this matter but it doesn't have to follow that I'm shit at my job. Still it is aibu I suppose.

Gosh people do have comprehension problems don't they?

It's amazing how often this gets trotted out when things don’t go the OP’s way.

@Peakhim just a heads up - this thread has been picked up by the Mirror!

Yes we have comprehension problems.

When you are the one that used 'enraged' instead of 'mildly irritated'.

peakhim - you

I wonder if people are capable of understanding that it's a little galling to read an email of errors, excuses or other shortcomings and then get to the end for a great garish signature to flash up blasting out his MA

The thing is, though, even people with MAs or PhDs can be awkward, difficult to manage, excuse-making, and so on (not saying this guy is), but the MA in his signature is a separate issue surely? If he was the perfect employee, would the MA in his sign-off bother you less?

Bloody "Daily Mirror" are onto this now!

You're his line manager and you can't figure this out for yourself! is he more qualified than you and it bothers you maybe. Sounds to me like he could be.

Yes, I am but it doesn't mean they are magically resolved as soon as I raised them. I suppose all the perfect managers on here raise a matter and then it's sorted but that hasn't happened in this case.

Interestingly, I don't need magic to manage my team. I engage with them, respect them and treat them like human beings. I also get to know them as individuals, and if someone has worked hard to get a Masters I credit their expertise instead of bitching about them on the internet.

It isn't by sheer coincidence that they are motivated to address any issues that I ask them to deal with, and support them in resolving. And I'm in no way a "perfect manager" I just do my job.

I’m with you op - it’s making him look naieve tbf. Anyone saying “oh it’s because he tried hard and is proud” - someone may have tried hard and be proud of their GCSE’s - it would still have no place in an email signature

StillCoughingandLaughing lol

Nowthenforever2019 that is normal.

It is your job to mange it and you need to do so.
A peer of mine had a naff signature for about half an hour. Swift email to the team from our manager- ‘please ensure emails follow this format- Name, job title, days worked’
Job done.

In some workplaces, external emails contain this sort of thing as a reassurance to clients they are qualified or certified for the role they have. However, it is unusual to do this for internal use only. I have letters I could add but choose not to because my actions speak louder than my qualifications and frankly, no one cares about letters if I do my job right and they are Happy with the outcome.

If it's the degree bit that irritates you I can see where you're coming from (Full name and full job title are absolutely standard for everywhere I've worked.) It's just a bit crass and does come across as showing off.

Years ago I remember a similar situation where we had a temporary assistant in our marketing team to support us, and she created an email signature saying 'Marketing Consultant' which was a gross overstatement of her position and pretty grating to the team at the time, so I know how these minor things can be irritating.

I probably would mention it to him but not specifically tell him to remove it.

I know someone who went through an entire, very successful 40+ year professional career without once letting on that he only had an ordinary degree rather than an honours degree. He never once lied about it: he didn't apply for jobs that demanded honours degrees, and he never said the he had one, he simply put down his degree qualification as it actually was - e.g. BA rather than BA(Hons) - and apparently everyone assumed he was just being modest. He fairly quickly reached a point where he was being headhunted because people wanted him for his proven skills, reputation and track record so no-one cared what his degree was anyway.

All of which is a fairly roundabout way of saying that people care more about what you do than what letters you have after your name, which makes putting them all on your auto signature a total waste of time anyway.

I've worked for companies where the email signature was quite tightly controlled. Some with qualifications (I have a protected title) and some without. Most with pixel size of particular images and other fine details.

You can decide to manage him (as is your role) or bitch about him online. You sound a little immature. Do you line manage many people? Is the 'line managing' very hands on or a very minute amount of seniority?