Work signature on personal email?

[qjk2304]

My children's father has sent me a rather nasty and threatening email regarding child arrangements.

At the end of the email it has his "work" email signature and company name. He's employed by a large and well known employer.

At first I thought, wow why has he sent this from his work email- seems inappropriate.

But looking at the email address it's actually from his personal email.

Does anyone know why he would do this or if this is okay? Thank you

No its not OK. He's using his employer's credentials for matters that are not related to its business. He could bring them into disrepute which could breach his contract of employment.

Make doubly sure you print it out and keep a copy of it, this doesn't seem appropriate at all.

Do you think he maybe wrote it during work time, emailed it to his personal address and then forwarded it onto you, forgetting to take the official signature and company bit off the bottom?

His job is physical not an office job, so doubtful he wrote it on work time really. But not impossible. It could be a mistake I suppose.

Someone at his work has helped him write it and he's forgotten to remove part of the mail.

If it had come from the email account itself then maybe that would be a bit off and the company wouldn't be happy. Probably best to focus on trying to resolve the issues than creating new ones by bringing his employer into something that is fairly trivial

I don't really get why is matters? What I mean is what are you wanting to achieve him saying my bad?

Why is it relevant?

You could always take it to a lawyer and see what they suggest… it’s not a good look for a place of employment that’s for sure.

People do this a bit -- write using a work signature (though usually from the work email) in completely inappropriate contexts and I've known a few to get into trouble if brought to attention of the employer. Sometimes people do it to show they have knowledge of an industry or connections but obviously not in this context. Mostly it's just stupid and not understanding protocol and proper use of work branding.

Sorry, I guess it was relevant to me as he's been abusive and controlling towards me for a long time, during the relationship and after (police involvement at various points).

I felt like it was intentional to exert some sort of power over the situation, I can't say exactly what he does but it is definitely a position of power/trust.

It's not going to have any effect on the issue itself, if that's what you were hoping?

I do lots between my work and personal email none of it is deliberately intentional or anything seems really weird too

It's hard to explain. I'm not planning on going to his employer. I have a solicitor already dealing with child arrangement stuff so I will probably run his latest email by her anyway.

But its similar to this, say he's a police officer or similar. He's sent me personal, threatening toned emails then signing them off PC Bob Smith, MET Police.

That isn't his job, but it's something similar that I'd say is a position of power and trust over the general public.

I felt by him using it, it is to exert his position and power,

He has contact with our child btw and I'm not trying to prevent that. Even if he had contact every day of the week he'd still be controlling towards me.

From your update, I agree it was probably intentional and to show off/intimidate you. What a gross man

Why don't you forward it to his employer and ask if that's what they represent? And you're not happy about your ex using his employment to try to gain leverage? It might get him in trouble (though don't if that could make things worse for you)

I've had another email from him today with the same signature, company name and title but from his personal again. It really does seem intentional.

I suspect he has written it at work and sent it to his personal email address. Before forwarding it to you it he has removed the top part which shows his work email details etc. but has forgotten about the signature.

The first part of this is highly discouraged by companies and work/personal email should never be mixed.

What a knob…

It's a dick move BUT pick your battles. In the grand scheme it's irrelevant.

But it is irrelevant if he genuinely did send it that way for whatever weird reason then it is not relevant from your end

I really don't get why you are obsessing over it

Hi @qjk2304 . I get what you mean, many people aren’t thinking about it from the perspective of trying to exert control and power. It is either a mistake or he is trying to exert influence using his position in a subtle way. For example, say I’m a solicitor if I write letters which imply but don’t say I’m writing in my professional capacity I would be said to be trying to get a benefit that is inappropriate from my role. Same for police etc.

2 options here, either accept he is a knob but recognise the tactic and ignore it, or contact his employer and ask them whether he is sending these in his work capacity given he is including his work signature and whether they agree with that/lodge a complaint. They will probably just tell him off, but if wrong footing him helps you then go for it.

Hope you’re doing ok

edit for typo

I'm not obsessing over it. It's hard to explain I guess unless you've been in an abusive and controlling relationship. There was police involvement during the relationship due to his physically abusive and controlling behaviour.

He still regularly tries to exert power over me.

I was just asking as obviously my solicitor is expensive, just to get an idea of others thoughts.

I can't say what he does without being outing, but it's a position of trust and a job that would be one of setting a good example in the community.

He wouldn't regularly write emails for his job.

It's akin to police, social worker, nurse, MP, signing off emails containing very personal information, and threats, with their employer/company name and job title.

It does just feel like a power move to me and I was only asking.

I’d report it to his employer, if there are consequences for him then so be it.

He's trying to intimidate you with it, and what a pathetic attempt. Either ignore or say 'did you know you're putting your work sign off on personal emails? Looks a bit unprofessional' so he knows it's not working, unless you're worried about inflaming him.

Forward the emails to his employer. They'll tell him to stop doing it and he'll look like a knob head.

Or the above response is good too... Show him it doesn't intimidate you, only makes him look stupid.