would you assume that an email to personnel would be treated as confidential?

[BikeBug]

Because they have just forwarded an email from me (asking how I would go about resigning) to another member of staff (who then phoned me in a big huff).

Potted history - I want to go back to work p/t, due back 1st Jan. I notified my line mgr/director/personnel over 12 months ago, heard no more about it except in informal conversations with my line manager where we both assumed all would be OK. Phoned personnel 2 weeks ago to confirm return date and days and was told there was a 'process' for 'flexible' working that I haven't been through, and that I couldn't return p/t until this process was completed. And that the next appointment to start it was 2 weeks after my return date. And that the process generally took 6 months.

So far, so bad.

Phoned my line manager in a big panic, emailed the director. Both told me all would be OK, and the flexible working people quickly sent confirmation that we would be going through the 'process'. Personnel then told me it would not be OK, and that I couldn't return p/t until the process was complete.

(still reading? Thank you)

So I got seriously pissed off and emailed the woman in personnel, asking what notice I would have to give to resign my post as I cannot return full time, even for a few weeks. She hasn't answered me, but has passed the email on the flexible working department, who then phoned me in a big huff because they have rushed my case through and feel I have rudly rejected all their efforts.

So was she seriously out of order to do that, or am I still in a big flap and over reacting?? I ended up being put on the spot by the flexible working people, and asked whether I wanted to resign or not, because if I did they would stop work on my case immediately. I have an application in for a different job (which I will accept if it is offered), but can't resign without it, so said no, i would be coming back.

I hate this job.

NO.

really? I had honestly thought that something like that would be treated as in confidence. Should I have written 'strictly confidential' in the subject line? (I tried phoning them to talk about it, but couldn't get through).

Yes, I am sorry to say I think you should have
Commiserations on your work woes.

no i wouldn't.

however, best practice would have been for personnel to respond to you by saying something along the lines of 'before we accept your resignation we would like the flexible working team to have a look to see if they can do anything to speed the process up.'

then you would probably have said yes that would be ok.

then flexible working would have tried to hurry things up so it could be sorted by the time you are due back.

ah well, I live and learn . I've had nothing but conflict with this personnel department over every aspect of my maternity leave, I'm just utterly fed up with it. I still don't know what my rights are re not going back after maternity leave either. Ho hum. Thanks to all for your replies (I should have posted here first, shouldn't I?)

I work in HR and I cannot imagine any of my colleagues doing that. However they also consider flexible working applications, so the situation would not have arisen. You said you asked HR about the procedure for resigning, which is not the same as actually resigning. Perhaps they misunderstood.

In general, if you treat all email as if it was a postcard written in pencil (that can be read and changed by anyone), you will not go far wrong.