Personal Email sent to whole department by mistake

[MuppetsGalore]

I've ducked up and worried about potential outcomes of this faux pas

An was sent to staff with platitudes about Caroline flaks suicide which I found infuriating, I've also been really annoyed by comments on social media about suicide ect

I thought I'd hit forward on the email but got reply and got distracted by other work and used it for writing notes and during my shift also wrote a bit of a rant for my diary

Anyhoo fast forward to the end of the night I'm knackered and in a rush to head home i just hit send on a couple of the emails i had open only to realise i sent my ramblings onto the whole department 🤦‍♀️

Worst case scenario i get fired for being a trouble maker best case scenario they all have a good laugh at me 🤦‍♀️

Aibu to be mortified by this?

I don't understand ppl taking CF's death so personally she was a privileged person who couldn't face her fuck ups.... well, I don't know why anyone at my workplaces could relate, anyway. I'd think you were taking something personally that isn't about you or maybe attn seeking. And then I'd try to forget about it.

you can recall your email though

TLDR... so it’s was meant for others to read?

I think the substance of what you wrote is fine and I wouldn’t see anyone disagreeing with it.

The issue is more that you are taking it upon yourself to be the voice of your organisation (not deliberately but that’s how it appears.) At worst some people may think you’re a bi sanctimonious or had a bit of a one off wobble.

I would recall it as someone said, just to put it on record that you’re not on a moral crusade. Maybe apologise to line manager. Otherwise I wouldn’t make too much fuss. Most people will have forgotten within six months.

I would just not mention it and move on from it. Most people will probably read it, raise an eyebrow and delete. If your boss asks you about it/why are you spending time on this etc tell them "well you started the dialogue about Caroline Flack - not me". It might even raise your profile at work in a good way or make your bosses more supportive. Now try to concentrate on your actual job not writing your diary for a bit!

"well you started the dialogue about Caroline Flack - not me"
politely obviously - like "I just thought I would respond to this important topic etc" I'm not suggesting that you are cheeky to your boss

Apologise fully to your boss.
Don't do it again.
Try to recall the emails for those who did not open it.
Work in working hours.
Wrap your personal things up on your personal time.
Please get busy out of your e-life.

This is hors-d'oeuvre.

You've made yourself a big main and you will have to eat it whether you've got appetite for it or not : you talked about your depression at work. Hope you can handle it. I would look for advice specifically for that one.

That reads exactly like copy you wrote to show people.
It's just more of the same virtue signalling about a woman's death.

I'm just going to write down my own ponderings here and then press "Post" in error...🤔

Who writes their ramblings and rants in full sentences organised into neat bullet points using carefully crafted rhetorical devices? Who has time to do this at work rather than in their own time at the end of a day? Who were you going to forward the original email to when you thought you'd hit forward? Why did you then leave the email open and use it to write your notes and also a rant for your diary? And finally, who ON EARTH writes "TLDR" in their own diary? 🧐

during my shift also wrote a bit of a rant for my diary

If I were your boss I'd pull you up on this. You are meant to be working.

It’s not enough for companies to have mental health ambassadors whilst treating employees like numbers on a spreadsheet

That's so so true - regardless of the politics of sending an email out, that is such a true statement.

Ticking a box for mental health first aiders and ignoring what's going on.

This could be a disciplinary offence at my work as it's against our computer use guidance. Why didn't you try to recall it? Or send an email to your manager straight away explain your 'error'? Using work equipment (and work time?) to express and share your personal and political views unsolicited with colleagues is not acceptable, and could be interpreted as criticising your employer too.

What stage of performance management are you on? Are you experiencing mental health issues and if so, what treatment are you having, are work aware, and what adjustments have been agreed? Your writing style and handling of the situation makes me concerned you may need some support?

Your behaviour and more importantly your reaction once you'd hit send was extremely unprofessional and if I received that as your manager I'd want to discuss it with you as soon as you arrived for your next shift.

If one thing infuriates me it's a meaningless platitude. People need to stand up for what they believe is right.
I was excluded by a queen bee at work for a year +
Things are so much better now she left but nobody stood up for me and said "salmon! Come along! Sit here! What do you think?"

They let it happen.

So anybody who has the balls to stand up to something they notice is wrong stands out from the herd in a good way.

So your email was a response to another email that referenced Caroline Flack?

I would suggest speaking to your manager ASAP to explain that you found the first email upsetting from the perspective of your own MH, and your written response was your way of dealing with this. You didn't mean to circulate it to the whole department. You realise this was inappropriate and you're sorry, and will try to find other coping strategies in future.

I like how you say you got "distracted by other work". You were at work. Work isn't a distraction.
I too question whether sending it was a genuine accident.

I would also very much questioned my management if we were send email about one famous person's death...

They're quite strict use of emails for personal stuff plus worried it will come across as insubordination (I'm on thin ice at the mo in terms of poor performance so this might just add to their case against me if i come across as unstable or a trouble maker

Given what you've just said I think it's unlikely that your manager will be impressed. What are you doing to improve your poor performance?

What’s TLDR?

The “i couldn’t help wondering” is a bit Carrie Bradshaw.

I think you’ll have to go with “I’m just so upset about poor Caroline, the first email just tipped me over.” Every other fucker jumped on the bandwagon yesterday, so it might help you dodge the bullet. Next time just forward the twee little “be kind” Facebook thing everyone who couldn’t get their fizz on telly sent.

Looks like a bit of sneaky virtue signalling both at work and on MN to be honest.
There’s nothing outrageous in your ‘rant.’

I also thought 'Jerry Maguire' while reading what you sent........are you sure you didn't accidentally/on purpose send this out? If your on 'thin ice' are you perhaps trying to put something out there 'unintentionally' that would make people have a rethink about your performance at work?
Apologies if I'm coming across as slightly cynical- I actually think you've made some very valid points that I completely agree with- the accidental 'send to all' I'm a bit dubious about...

Who writes their ramblings and rants in full sentences organised into neat bullet points using carefully crafted rhetorical devices? Who has time to do this at work rather than in their own time at the end of a day? Who were you going to forward the original email to when you thought you'd hit forward? Why did you then leave the email open and use it to write your notes and also a rant for your diary? And finally, who ON EARTH writes "TLDR" in their own diary?

Quite. This doesn’t really add up OP

Pre-empt any feedback by forwarding it again with a message saying something like ‘Oops! Sorry people, ignore this. I pressed send accidentally’. Do it a couple of times maybe. That will bump your original rant down the page and a lot of people will not read it it. Most people ignore send to all messages anyway. In fact IME most people never read anything!

Very well written rant BTW. You make some excellent points.

think you’ll have to go with “I’m just so upset about poor Caroline, the first email just tipped me over.”

That's not going to improve things if a celebrity death tips a person over. People with mental health issues can cope with bereavement you know?

I wouldn't believe it was an accident. Who hits send without looking what the email is and who you are sending it to?

I think you will be able to ride it out. I think if they are sending out messages about Caroline Flack, they have to forgive someone replying to it, even if it is policy not to send emails to the whole department without approval.

I think best to not write things for your diary while at work, it was bound to happen at some point wasn't it?

No one here can predict how your work will respond.

@Winebottle I agree with the checking or even 'quick glance' re the send, naturally do this- also do you not get a warning when your about to mass send? I do?