Discussion
Not me involved but something ridiculous just happened at work.
A newish guy, been working for the company for around a year or so - mid 20's, works in sales had an aggrievance with the document controller.
Anyway - MD calls a meeting to discuss the animosity between them and to smooth things over. Meeting consisted of 6 people and went on for a good hour and a half. Albeit it was about a few other things too, general communication and frustrations etc.
The basis of the meeting was new guy does not like the way the document controller is responding to him via email, as he only gives him one word answers (or basic answers) when replying to his emails. No "Hi or Good morning" etc.
Is this really what the new generation or employee's are bringing to the table? I just cannot believe the utter waste of time and money.
A newish guy, been working for the company for around a year or so - mid 20's, works in sales had an aggrievance with the document controller.
Anyway - MD calls a meeting to discuss the animosity between them and to smooth things over. Meeting consisted of 6 people and went on for a good hour and a half. Albeit it was about a few other things too, general communication and frustrations etc.
The basis of the meeting was new guy does not like the way the document controller is responding to him via email, as he only gives him one word answers (or basic answers) when replying to his emails. No "Hi or Good morning" etc.
Is this really what the new generation or employee's are bringing to the table? I just cannot believe the utter waste of time and money.
A general salutation is fine if you are starting an email or havent sent anything to them in a while.
If its back and forth between you all day long then one word answers is fine. You should probably just have a face to face meeting at some point during the day/week which could help stop all the niggling little question emails though.
If its back and forth between you all day long then one word answers is fine. You should probably just have a face to face meeting at some point during the day/week which could help stop all the niggling little question emails though.
Let's not go and whinge about an entire generation over one overly-sensitive sales gimp shall we 
How did the others react in that meeting when it became clear that's what he was upset about
I'd have to be going out of my way in future to remove all pleasantries from any communications with him
How did the others react in that meeting when it became clear that's what he was upset about
I'd have to be going out of my way in future to remove all pleasantries from any communications with him
sherman said:
A general salutation is fine if you are starting an email or havent sent anything to them in a while.
If its back and forth between you all day long then one word answers is fine. You should probably just have a face to face meeting at some point during the day/week which could help stop all the niggling little question emails though.
^^^ 100% thisIf its back and forth between you all day long then one word answers is fine. You should probably just have a face to face meeting at some point during the day/week which could help stop all the niggling little question emails though.
Also, no need to clog people's inboxes up with "thank you". Perhaps for something out of the ordinary or more involved, but for the mundane stuff it's really not needed.
Sycamore said:
How did the others react in that meeting when it became clear that's what he was upset about
I'd have to be going out of my way in future to remove all pleasantries from any communications with him
Reaction was as expected. General consensus is to be overly pleasant in the future. "Hi Bae" etc... I'd have to be going out of my way in future to remove all pleasantries from any communications with him
Spare tyre said:
Depends on how he talks to others via email
My wife will text me and get upset if I respond with one wonders to a simple question
That’s fair enough. My wife will text me and get upset if I respond with one wonders to a simple question
What if it’s the last time she ever gets a message from you, because you pass away unexpectedly. In her grief she looks at her messages from you….
And it’s all
No
No
Yes
Curry
Later
No
6.30
Tomorrow
Take a second and say something personal. It won’t kill you…..
Love you xx.
Just to add a bit more to the story.
A few months back a questionnaire was sent out to all staff on how to improve moral in sales.
Said chap requested, free fruit bowls to be topped up daily around the office, free tea/coffee milk etc and dart boards and mini golf mats to relieve stress.
It's not just me, is it?
A few months back a questionnaire was sent out to all staff on how to improve moral in sales.
Said chap requested, free fruit bowls to be topped up daily around the office, free tea/coffee milk etc and dart boards and mini golf mats to relieve stress.
It's not just me, is it?
My ex-boss and I didn't see eye to eye. In fact, I think it's safe to say we have a genuine contempt for each other. He used to send me emails like that.
"Toon,
Provide me the latest budget spend for project X.
Boss"
That type of thing. Passive aggressive and I used to play the same game.
"Boss,
OK
Toon"
I thought nothing of it, but he got a very low score on a global employee survey (they have a section for your immediate manager.) We had an HR supported meeting to look into it and it turned out he was just a socially retarded moron and thought that was acceptable conduct for a leader. Like I say, it didn't concern me but one of the women who reported to him made a huge thing of it. He accepted the criticism and told us all that he had heard similar complaints from his wife and other people about his directness. He went on to say he would address it.
From then on, he sent really awkward emails which were overly friendly and not sincere as we all knew him. I'm not sure if he was genuinely trying to make amends or if he was just taking the pee and being sarcastic. I don't think he has the mental capacity to be sarcastic and think I preferred his previous rude style
"Toon,
Provide me the latest budget spend for project X.
Boss"
That type of thing. Passive aggressive and I used to play the same game.
"Boss,
OK
Toon"
I thought nothing of it, but he got a very low score on a global employee survey (they have a section for your immediate manager.) We had an HR supported meeting to look into it and it turned out he was just a socially retarded moron and thought that was acceptable conduct for a leader. Like I say, it didn't concern me but one of the women who reported to him made a huge thing of it. He accepted the criticism and told us all that he had heard similar complaints from his wife and other people about his directness. He went on to say he would address it.
From then on, he sent really awkward emails which were overly friendly and not sincere as we all knew him. I'm not sure if he was genuinely trying to make amends or if he was just taking the pee and being sarcastic. I don't think he has the mental capacity to be sarcastic and think I preferred his previous rude style
TTmonkey said:
Spare tyre said:
Depends on how he talks to others via email
My wife will text me and get upset if I respond with one wonders to a simple question
That’s fair enough. My wife will text me and get upset if I respond with one wonders to a simple question
What if it’s the last time she ever gets a message from you, because you pass away unexpectedly. In her grief she looks at her messages from you….
And it’s all
No
No
Yes
Curry
Later
No
6.30
Tomorrow
Take a second and say something personal. It won’t kill you…..
Love you xx.
I mean I will have text chats with her, but it’s like when I’m mowing the lawn or wrestling children etc
Pasta or potatoe
Pasta
But yes, it wouldn’t kill me to be a bit more human
Cheers
Feck me things are different these days.
In the olden days: Aggro with a colleague? Don't go moaning to the boss, sort it out face to face. (outside in the car park if necessary).
Mind, I did get the sack in the end for decking one MD. (He was a t
t & I'd happily do the same again).
Taking offence at the tone of an email? Holy crap on a cracker.
In the olden days: Aggro with a colleague? Don't go moaning to the boss, sort it out face to face. (outside in the car park if necessary).
Mind, I did get the sack in the end for decking one MD. (He was a t
t & I'd happily do the same again).Taking offence at the tone of an email? Holy crap on a cracker.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff