To hate it when people CC managers into emails for no reason?

[CCMeNot]

I find it so passive-aggressive when someone copies a manager into an email thread when it’s completely unnecessary. If we’re having a straightforward discussion or resolving a minor issue, why escalate it by looping in management?

It feels like a power play - a way of signalling something without saying it outright or trying to cover themselves unnecessarily. To me, it undermines trust and open communication.

AIBU to think this kind of behaviour is petty and unprofessional or is it just standard office politics I need to get over?

I was listening to a news report about prison management. There are so many uber managers on £200k plus who are nowhere near prisons. It is appalling how badly run prisons are.
The Government should sack them all and increase the number of Prison Governors and prison staff.
So many managers in so many work places are unnecessary. Sack the majority and hire more workers.
Copying managers into emails actually gives them something to do.

I mean, that's you. I have a stakeholder who went to my manager with a formal complaint because I emailed her 'Dear Jane' when her name is actually 'Jayne', and I'd emailed immediately to follow up to apologise for my typo before she'd emailed my manager. Absolutely no other issue with my delivery on the project, but wanted a formal complaint process undertaken.

If somebody's unhappy with my work, step 1 is to discuss it with me directly, not go over my head. You see my boss only if you can't revolve it with me

But that's fine! For example, if you've asked someone to do something, and they haven't done it, then escalate away. Or you need mediation, or a decision to be taken higher up.

But not just to prove a point.

OMG that woman needs to try having a more unusual name than Jane/Jayne and see what life is like! I hope she was laughed out of the place.

I hate it too. The people who do it are inevitably the sort of people who would run to the teacher at school for every tiny thing.

I don’t mind escalation when there’s an actual issue, that’s fair. It’s more when it’s done pre-emptively or unnecessarily, like copying in a manager before there’s even a chance to resolve things directly. That feels less like accountability and more like signalling.

OMG. You wouldn't say that if you worked somewhere where you need your manager's decision before you can do many things, but they are busy because colleagues are filling their emails with crap. If managers are inundated with pointless emails, it's those below them who suffer.

Sometimes signalling is necessary though. Some line managers want to know at the first hint of issue, others only want to know if hits major problem territory.

Doesn't bother me to be honest if someone does this but I do my job well and am transparent so if they want to bother management with minor things it makes them look worse off anyways. 🤷‍♀️

You can't say it's a power play or covering themselves and then say it's happening for no reason. There are loads of reasons why someone might want to be in the loop or it's useful for everyone to see what was said. Sometimes it's because of the manager or person sending the email. Sometimes it's because of you and if you're the problem, you need to stop being. If you've done what you should, how you should, it wouldn't matter.

Name changed to protect the guilty but same principle 😂(a very standard/usual name but with a 'y' where the standard version wouldn't have it).

Reason I thought about that on this thread was that she has since copied my manager in to other emails and my manager doesn't really give them time of day on the basis she has a slight tendency to overreact...

Hate it. You do this you get moved to the bottom of my pile... And my manager knows this. My manager also usually replies back telling us to drop them from the chain

Depends on why.
If I ask someone not on my team to do something, I cc their manager so they know I've added to their workload.

If you have a problem, you deal with the person directly first. It's common decency.

We're not talking about managers wanting to be copied in though, we're talking about other people making the decision to do that. It's different.

I was dealing with a big wig in the city ( his words) about his parents care home funding, and he copied every email into the head of social work, someone who is not in my management chain of command, I assumed it made him feel better about the bullshit he was telling me

In the adult worl it's the workplace version of "I'm telling the teacher on you" and it pisses me off. There's always at least one shit stirrer.

This.

You only need to worry about your manager being CC'd if you are one of those infuriating people who is constantly fobbing people off who you are supposed to be doing something for, then magically does it once your manager is CC'd in.

Nobody wants to have to 'tell on you' so don't force them to, reply to them, explain the delay or better still actually do the work they are waiting on!

Dont make people tell on you then, just do the fucking work? Or reply and explain the delay?
You just dont like being caught out.

Doesn’t bother me at all actually. I copy my manager into things when I think it’s something she should be aware of, nothing passive aggressive.

Exactly this. If my manager is CC'd in it'll be because she or he needs to be aware of it, that's all.

One of the shit stirrers are you?

I always keep my arse well and truly covered because of two faced colleagues who don't like what they're told and want their own way.

Depends. I've worked with people who use it as a power trip but Ive worked with people who just do it for practical reasons.

If I randomly cc people in. I'll put in the body why eg "Dave - copying you in so you are aware" or "I've cc'd Dave in case he has any thoughts on it".

I personally think BCC'ing people in should be banned. I think much less of people who use it. They are sneaky and underhand. Have the courage of your conviction and dont go behind people's backs.

I cant be doing with messing about and power play.

Im the manager being copied in and its annoying from my perspective! I was only raging (internally) about this today!