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??

Well he certainly doesn't come from a disadvantaged background and he's not the first in his family to go to university. In fact I'm sure he did a masters because his family were able to pay and it saved him having to work for a bit longer.

Ha so you are jealous.

In fact I'm sure he did a masters because his family were able to pay and it saved him having to work for a bit longer.

Bitchy much? You sound full of envy and resentment tbh. I’d stop digging if I were you.

I don't think you should be in a management position😮

I have my full
Job title which is normal where I work.
I also think let him get on with it, it’s not harming anyone else. You could get away w saying it’s house style not to do that though and enforce a signature style.

@Peakhim - So to sum up; you feel intimidated by the new hire because he’s more qualified then you are, and instead of helping him work to his full potential like a decent manager would do (and which, less face it would benefit both of you) you’ve decided to encourage other colleagues to take the piss and start a subtle bullying campaign against him in a bid to get rid of him and cover up your own ineptitude? Enjoy explaining that to HR.

Shit, you are a terrible person to be a people manager.

You are worried about it been seen as bullying, because it is. You clearly just dont like him

Wanky and a bit rude - yep, that's the OP!

One of my colleagues has this too

I'm tempted to put on mine:

Name, Degree, BTEC IT Distinction, 250m swimming badge

Why does it bother you so much? Let him make a prat of himself!

wanky you do clearly feel insecure about the parents you deal with.

Its clear, no one even suggested you would get a quicker reply. But the fact that, that's how you read it speaks volumes.

If you don't already have a house or department style for email signatures, set one up and tell everyone they must comply.

People in this country have a real problem with academic learning and the idea of expertise don't they? It's because our education system is so linked to our class structure.

I used to work in Germany where the idea that you would try and hide your academic credentials is utter preposterous. No-one has a chip on their shoulder about it either. Yet in this country I've had snarky remarks and pathetic attempt to shame me about me using my academic title and my chartered status by unqualified people including insecure managers and I'm scientist using my knowledge every day! I spent a long time gaining my qualifications and i will use the titles I am entitled to when I see fit. I really don't care of that 'offends' people who didn't put the effort in to get them.

So like

Thomas Banks MA
Assistant News Editor
Fulsome News Ltd

?

I think that is pretty normal in business. Often with mobile and desk phone numbers

Also, there are instances where using a work email is actually useful I've done this and I know friends who have as well. It's unsurprising how much less smugly unjust and inflexible on policy matters people can be when the email comes from a national news outlet, law firm, or a company that has a very large contract with them

As a lawyer, I can't just use my solicitor job title unless in a professional context

In fact I'm sure he did a masters because his family were able to pay and it saved him having to work for a bit longer

Who knows? However, they are very hard work and the firm will surely be benefitting from his knowledge.

Op I sympathise. When I’ve started in new places I have always been careful to observe what the workplace etiquette is on things like email signatures, out of office replies etc. The fact he didn’t bother to look at what the norm is (or did and ignored it) and ploughed on regardless would tell me quite a lot because experience tells me people who don’t care about that stuff tend to have broader problems in the workplace. I work with people who almost all have at least one degree, some have masters or PhD and nearly all will have some form of professional quals but none of that would go on our email signature or business card.

The OP needs to care about this because she is his manager and so Indirectly his actions reflect on her. That doesn’t mean she is at all jealous or afraid of him.

@Aridane yes you may not be able to use your professional title in personal correspondence but getting an email from someone at (for example) Clifford Chance will often cause the recipient to pause for thought before they send a computer says no email.

What a bazaar small-minded attitude.

Are you threatened by the fact they have qualifications and are proud to state as such. Why wouldn't you want well qualified people working for you.

And what's the point of working hard to attain good credentials if you feel on a vow of silence by your employer. If I were him I'd go elsewhere, to a less petty organisation where people value aspiration.

@CloudRusting - so basically your argument Is that the op Is reasonable to bully him to cover up her on ineptitude because she’s a manager?

@CloudRusting

I work with people who almost all have at least one degree, some have masters or PhD and nearly all will have some form of professional quals but none of that would go on our email signature or business card.

Is there a reason for this? I used to work for a large company that had a similar culture for emails and business cards created purely by comms people who just wanted everything to be 'simple and on brand' and that 'customers' might be 'confused'. Yet the same company was deliberately hiring people because of their qualifications and knowledge into roles that needed them. Luckily a new MD from the technical side of the business stopped this stupid practice and stated "The company shouldn't act like it is ashamed of employing highly qualified people when it relies on these people to deliver what its customers expect".

I have mine as it is related to the sector I work in

In fact I'm sure he did a masters because his family were able to pay and it saved him having to work for a bit longer

Wow

Are you sure you've been pleasant and helpful to him?

@Hopo *The company shouldn't act like it is ashamed of employing highly qualified people when it relies on these people to deliver what its customers expect"

Thank goodness for leaders like your MD! They celebrate a culture of learning - the OPs attitude as a manager, is what keeps companies in the dark ages, having to keep their achievements under wraps in case it pisses management off.

I suspect I’d be job hunting quite hard if you managed me, OP.