I have just been sent an email by mistake,

[iwantitalltobenormal]

AIBU to be massivley hurt and pissed off from the email I have just read which was sent to me by mistake?

at the begining of this year, I offered to do a monthly blog for our small team, so other departments are more aware of what we do internally - (manager thought it was a great idea ) baring in mind this was my first attempt at this , and by no means a mandatory task , I did it all on a power point presentation , I also do not claim to be a professional blog writer and I really enjoyed doing it, and putting it together, I sent it to my manager back in March, It took a little while due to also carrying out my day to day job.

fast forward to today ( baring in mind I had no response or feedback on my blog, whether it be positive criticism or any type of feedback) someone has unfortunately sent me a long email trail between my line manager to his line manager slating my work on the blog I had done and slating how unprofessional it the content is - but in a really distasteful way , and nasty.

I feel hurt, upset and belittled.

It depends what was said as to whether its professional or not. It sounds like they were more mocking the OP than discussing her performance professionally.

Bearing in mind neither manager has given OP any feedback, has passed on their thoughts to another colleague without giving any indication to the OP that her work wasnr up to standard.

Sorry but that is not professional. Its also really crap managing.

OP sorry this had happened to you, its shit. Another one saying Toddlers reponse is good

That must feel shit. But I think you need to try and take onboard the criticism you’ve read. How is your general work performance and relationship with your manager? And if you look critically at your work, are you able to understand their points?

Whether or not the "feedback" was relevant (grammatical or otherwise), the email was unprofessional - you have every right to be angry and upset.
What you do next depends on the culture of the company. You could go nuclear and complain to HR? Or you could charm them with a passive aggressive reply ;-)

It seems they passed their thoughts to the colleague by mistake, not ok, but an error.

Much depends on what was actually said, because it’s easy to read something and be very hurt and in actual fact the words aren’t that bad.

It could easily be

I think this task needs to be moved to another colleague, the spag is poor and the whole tone unprofessional, she’s failed to promote the work accurately and shows a distinct lack of understanding on what’s required

I agree, I’m quite surprised at just how poorly it’s been done and felt she would have had better judgment and a higher ability level than she’s displayed here. I simoly cant fathom why she added those joke /personal elements into it too. No one is interested in that in this platform.

Someone reading that might think it’s nasty if it’s about them, but it’s just two managers discussing something.

So they asked your colleague to pick up doing the blog going forward - did anyone tell you to stop doing the blog prior to this?

Sorry you've had this - it's rubbish. I liked @Toptotoeunicolour response though. Definitely stay professional. They should feel like shit

Are you still furloughed and your colleague is in work?

Just wondering why they have asked your colleague to pick it up but not actually told you not to carry on with it.

@Z0rr0

That is hugely unprofessional on behalf of the two managers who have a duty not to bring the company into disrepute by making rude, personal comments about a member of staff and I suspect you would have a claim. You are entitled as a member of staff to see all correspondence including emails that mention you by name. Does the company have an HR department? I would ask for all their policies and procedures and consider asking your HR rep for help in this. Also a union rep. Look at ACAS guidance. You have been placed in a very difficult position which if you felt no longer able to work there could amount to constructive dismissal. Do your research before taking any action but what they have done is way beyond the bounds of professional behaviour. (Assuming you are correct in saying their comments are distasteful and nasty.)

This is typical of the terrible advice you get on any MN thread about work. Only follow Z0rr0's advice if you want to guarantee you have no future at the company. It's not constructive dismissal accidentally to let slip you don't like a colleague's blog, FFS. You will look a complete fool if you go down this route.

Instead, look at what has happened as an opportunity to show your professionalism. Say nothing to the person who was slagging you off. Go to your manager, say that, although you found it upsetting to get feedback this way, it is useful to know that the blog is not meeting everyone's needs and you would welcome his/her advice on improving it. This way, you will look like a gold star professional.

Just say nothing today. Let them notice that you have been copied in on the email. Gather your thoughts quietly and try to take all the emotion out of it before raising it with your line manager.

When you get home write down everything you would like to say as a means of getting it out of your system. And then chip that back until it says what you want to say in a professional and detached manner.
I did that recently with something (different scenario) and it helped to get the emotional bit out of my system, and I then submitted a factual account to officialdom.

I received this by mistake. It sounds like we should probably have a chat about the concept for the blog. Maybe we could agree a framework for each post so that it meets everyone’s expectations?

This is a good positive response.

I would maybe add that I was disappointed to have not received constructive feedback on my initial draft before now, or been given the opportunity to make corrections before it was shared in this manner, considering that I had completed it in my own time.

@FleurDaxeny

the mistake was unprofessional

Fair enough to be hurt, but you just had a very genuine feedback that you would never have got in real life. Use it professionally and learn from it. It stings when you get criticised, but sometimes it's helpful.

Yes... Twas unprofessional,but do your best to rise above, and take it as feedback. I know it isn't the point, but I would find a ppt outlining another departments activities hard to engage with- no matter how great the content. Take it as a learning experience. Ultimately,they look like an asshole, while you have the opportunity to behave in a professional manner. You'll be golden.

Some questions:

1. Was the blog you did ever published to the company at large or just sent to your manager for review?

1. Is it correct that the two managers slagged off your work between them then knowingly sent a copy of that criticism to one of your peers (when asking that peer to take over the task)?

1. Do the two managers know that you have seen this email- were they copied in when you received it?

Putting aside the “nasty” feedback, what did they think was going to happen when you found out that the task was being reassigned to your colleague? They should have come back to you and told you that the task was being reassigned. It is extremely discourteous/unprofessional not to have done so.

And just to be clear, the colleague should only have been told “we’d like you to do this now”, not made privy to any criticisms of you. That is hugely unprofessional.

Are people just not reading the thread? How is it a good idea for her to ask how to improve it etc when they have taken it off her and asked someone else to do it. That’s like begging to be kicked.

Is the manager criticising your piece the same one who thought it'd be a good idea for a department blog in the first place?
Did anyone give you a format to follow or advice on content? Why did you not ask for feedback before publishing it, did no one have to sign it off first? Why didnt you ask for feedback shortly after? Not criticising you, just trying to get a clearer picture.

Can you reply at moment or are you furloughed?

Honestly... In your position I'd forward email to your manager copying HR and explaining that you feel this email chain discussing your work in such a fashion should never have been sent to a colleague.
Pointing out that this was voluntary, above your normal role and you asked but didn't receive any feedback. You now feel kicked.
Ask for a meeting to discuss

@ToddlerBumpBorderCollie

That’s awful behaviour. I’d be inclined to reply with something icily professional. I believe you have sent this email in error and if you would like my efforts directed elsewhere please find another way of communicating that.

How rude and unprofessional and just generally crap. Hope you’re okay

Do this!!

I also think that this is a good response.

I received this by mistake. It sounds like we should probably have a chat about the concept for the blog. Maybe we could agree a framework for each post so that it meets everyone’s expectations?

Do not involve more people at this stage, especially HR as it will only escalate.

ArgumentativeAardvaark

Never published , just to manager

Yes knowingly slated it and sent to peer

No they do not know

Forward it to a non work email address OP.
How unprofessional of them to do that. If theyve realised they'll be mortified/bricking it. Well I hope they are anyway.
You need to address it, stay professional and take the high ground as others have said.
Good luck.

Hi again OP. Do you feel comfortable sharing some of the language used in the email chain you read?

At the moment you are getting a very mixed bag of suggestions.

I do agree that sometimes, something that is professionally and constructively critical can be misconstrued as 'mean' or hurtful.

But on the other hand, there is some language that is unacceptable to use when talking about employees when in a senior role. Or, for that matter, in any professional situation. And there is some language that would actually warrant 'go straight to HR, do not pass go'.

If they said 'have you seen this load of crap, how embarrassing', that's totally different to saying 'I don't think Alltobenormal's blog was written very well'.

So yes, if you can find it in yourself to share with us some of the language used, I think you'll get a much clearer response.

Forward yourself a copy.

Email co-worker separately and ask if they were aware they sent the whole thread and what the content was.

Forward the whole email to your line manager and their boss and say that whilst you would have appreciated hearing their feedback directly, nevertheless it has made it's way to you. Thank them for their critique of your work and ask politely in future for them to come directly to you if your work appears to be substandard.

Just to be clear, I don't mean to copy and paste full sentences or breach company confidentiality.

I mean, if they said 'bitch, dumbass' anything else on a sliding scale of inappropriate language, it would be very helpful to know.

What did it say?

Sorry OP and Bluntenss I meant 'play daft' and reply to the person who sent the email, I know it's not the manager - they clearly feel they have some feedback so the OP could pretend it was intentional she was coped and take steps to pick it up properly with that person.

Very upsetting OP.

But a cool head will serve you well here.
Definitely send a copy to your private email.

For the best advice you really need to be less vague.

If the language is rude, personally disparaging, misogynistic etc...it is one thing.

If it slates the work as a very poor incompetent effort which in no way was fit for purpose it is definitely another thing.

I think if it's the latter then several of the suggestions above like @ToddlerBumpBorderCollie or @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz are good suggestions.

If it's the former, that is, personally disrespectful, and inappropriate, then you should give us specific examples so you can be best advised.