AIBU to think the CC button is unnecessary at work

[justhereforthecraic]

I have currently started in a senior role at my work which i am really excited about. I will be working alongside 3 other seniors.
My issue is that every time I email 2 of them with a GENUINE query that can most likely be sorted at our level, they both CC their manager in.

For context, we all have different managers as we are all in different localities. Anyway, in a meeting last week with my line manager, he said that he basically detests being CCd into emails unless there is an urgent need. He would prefer for us to work together as the Senior group to get a solution and if we cant, it can be escalated upwards for further input. He also said if it was an urgent need, he would prefer a phonecall. I totally agree with this.

This is a mere rant really.... She didnt even give any of us a chance to come up with a plan or try and work togethr ?!?!

i also think its sheer laziness.... and a "LOOK AT ME " kind of tactic....[sceptical]

Anyway.... Rant over!

Can we delete the CC button?! or maybe just delete certain staff!

Do you work where I work

I do admit to passive aggressively cc’ing my manager when a certain colleague is pissing about not completing a task because the next email will then be to say they’ve @finallly completed the task

When you work with a shit team, and your manager is shit too, and you have no choice but to cover your arse, the CC button (and email in general) becomes your best friend.

I’ve never understood the CC function anyway. Just put them in the “send to” box because they will receive the email anyway 🤷‍♀️ CC is pointless imo

@Hadjab

When you work with a shit team, and your manager is shit too, and you have no choice but to cover your arse, the CC button (and email in general) becomes your best friend.

Yes this! Or if your manager is a micromanaging arse and requests it. Just keep doing what you are doing and ignore it

@Timeforausernamechange22

I’ve never understood the CC function anyway. Just put them in the “send to” box because they will receive the email anyway 🤷‍♀️ CC is pointless imo

cc indicates that it is for info for that recipient and a reply is not (necessarily) expected though

Depends on your job, surely. I work as a small team and our work overlaps so we all need to keep up to date on what's going on. So if I email something to one member of the team I cc the others so they know where we're up to with the document, but I address it only to the person who has to take action on it. We all do it here but there is a flat hierarchy so it's not arse covering or anything, just actually very helpful!

It is annoying but may well be happening because the managers involved have asked or are incompetent.

I use CC a lot, its generally used to keep people in the loop but not expect them to be fully involved or at least keep it on their radar.

If I have to always chase the same people for bit of works or tasks, I will CC in their manager or my manager. Just so they know they on the radar and I have evidence my work is being held up by others, with out directly making a complaint.

It depends on the culture. It might be that their managers like to know how they are spending their time- if they are taking time on getting you up to speed then they probably want their line managers to know so they are aware of where they are spending their time.
Often if I am asking for help outside of my team I will cc in the department head so they are aware of additional demands on their teams time.

YABU.

Yes it's annoying when it's being used in that manner - but when you want to send an email to someone from whom you need an approval, and you want to let others know (but they don't need to supply any input) then it's invaluable.

I have a separate folder for emails where I'm only in the CC row, then I know they are lower priority.

I love being CCd in mails; it means I'm not expected to reply and it can be filed

I have some sympathy as I find some other people’s email habits infuriating. Where I work, no one seems to understand the difference between reply and reply-all.

Cc is vital in my line of work!! But I don’t like it when people use it for passive aggressiveness though!!

To - person needs to action something/ take note.
Cc- inaction needed, for info only and to keep in loop.

It is a useful button. Means I wait and see that others take action if I'm only cc.

I’m a manager, I get copied in to a million emails I don’t really need to be included in, drives me a little bit potty! Now my inbox is always full and I have to delete stuff to send emails.

Generally we work as a team though so the ‘on the floor’ staff have to copy in everyone else in the team so they all know where we are at and who has done what. I think because I have only fairly recently taken over as manager, people haven’t yet adapted and it does have its benefits in that I know what’s been done and what hasn’t without having to ask.

I think it can be quite passive aggressive and I only do copy in my manager when I really think it’s genuinely necessary. Do it too often and it just makes you look slightly inept in my opinion.

I do chuckle at some quite critical emails I occasionally find myself copied in to where the complainant has copied in everyone and their aunty, it never looks professional!

I used to work for a company that had a few offices in other parts of the world (US, Australia, Tokyo...). The colleagues in the American office ALWAYS did this if they thought there was any hint of someone not knowing something or if they felt someone had done something wrong (even when they hadn't). Used to drive me mad - it was a very obvious "look Kim at what I have to deal with, but thank goodness I am here to sort it all out, did you see Kim? Kim?"). The other offices never had any of that shit.
(not an American bashing at all - I have lived in the US and loved both the country and people, but the people in this particular office were real suck-ups and I think would have stomped on anyone to make themselves look better).

I once had a massive thread on here over this. I think it's important to use it wisely, not just as and when. It very much is the case that you need to cover your arse but in the scenario you describe it does sound useless. Having said that some people have learnt the hard way so have adopted it as a way of life. To PP who said they use it to update eachother on documents they're all sharing surely there's a more efficient way of doing this e.g. something like gdocs?

It’s a shame emails you are cc into aren’t then sent to a separate folder so you can review them like once a day or so, instead of clogging up your inbox.

I’ve set a rule in my emails that Amy I get where I’m cc’d go directly into a separate folder. I check them maybe twice a day. Cos if you want me to do something, send me an email - if it’s just for info, cc me.
Works a treat.
However, it can (and does) get used in a pa way occasionally. But at least with my ‘rule’ I get to mostly ignore it.

Cc is useful for small teams or part time so someone can pick it up if you cant. Just ignore, it literally doesnt matter to you. Someone wants to work differently to your boss. Big deal.

@Timeforausernamechange22

It’s a shame emails you are cc into aren’t then sent to a separate folder so you can review them like once a day or so, instead of clogging up your inbox.

I think you can set outlook rules to do that.

I have to bcc the world into emails. I can’t even ask a question, wait for the reply and then cc the world when it’s been resolved! Pissing annoying.

Does the world really need to know I asked and when I got a response… NO.. but who the hell am I.. a mere cog in the wheel

I usually cc people in shortly before going on holiday so whoever it is emailing me, knows which colleague can pick up in my absence and it also gives my colleague the background.

We have one head of year who is so lazy that when I email her something important I always CC in her boss otherwise she won’t reply and often says she didn’t get it

I totally agree that it is a valuable tool also. I use it to keep my line manager up to date on urgent matters or if I'm going off on leave and things need actioned. The person who abuses it at my work is unable to use it in the right context. I know she's looking for approval and as a PP pointed out, she wants them to know what she's having to deal with. She's a lazy person anyway.

Also , don't get me started on REPLY TO ALL. lol

Is it bad that I can probably name all the people in my team who will hit the reply to all , even when our boss has told us not too....

Anyway, I'm glad some people feel my pain and I'm not going mad. Only 2 weeks into job and already wanting to pull my hair out. Not for the job tasks but the colleagues I have to work with haha