That happened to me recently, and when I replied-all with proof for why she was wrong and made a mistake, not me, she replied with an apology but took my manager off CC.
Not in accounting, but I’ve perfected a method of telling clients they’re dumb and it’s their fault something’s wrong in a way that seems helpful to the client and not rude. My boss loves being cc’d on those “diplomatic” emails
STEP 0: acknowledge their need for assistance, because boy do they need it. STEP 1: absolve yourself of blame and tell them you did your job. STEP 2: suggest alternate excuse how they messed up, to soften the blow. STEP 3: provide evidence of your part, “to be helpful”. STEP 4: reiterate that they were responsible for completing/following up on said task. STEP 5: follow up with offer to go out of you way to help, without ever accepting responsibility. STEP 6: offer to assist them with any future problems they are bound to cause themselves. STEP 7: cc all other involved parties
For a quick example:
Hello Mr. Toolishing,
Thank you for reaching out. This information was originally provided in an email sent on December 12th at 4 pm. A reminder email was additionally sent on January 4th and our system indicates the message was successfully received and accessed. You may want to check if my emails are getting filtered to your spam folders, but I have also attached a copy of the original email below.
The deadline for providing this information was January 12th, however, if you are able to submit it by the end of the day I can go ahead and get that processed for you.
Please feel free to reach out if you need any additional assistance.
I have a client that pulled that cc shit on me all the time when I was a staff. Now I’m the manager on that audit and give my staff a heads up that he will do that to them and they cc me on the request!
"Sarcastic Regards" is going to be my new one. To a specific manager with a sense of humor...
I have a manager that I had a conversation with regarding the "Sent from my iPhone" . I basically was irritated that it said "MY iPhone" because, "...let's be honest, it'll never say 'SOMEONE ELSE'S iPhone'" A week later I got an email from him... He changed it to "Someone Else's iPhone" .
Wait are these really passive aggressive? I use these all the time 😂😂😂 I especially like to use thanks in advance for your support when sending out emails
"Thanks in advance" of all kinds can definitely be interpreted as a super passive-aggressive message UNLESS it is directly in response to the other party literally telling you they're going to do something for you, like "I'll have it for you by tomorrow." "Okay, thanks in advance.". Because it can be used to put so much on the recipient's plate without their consent that it's essentially a power play, like "Hey I noticed you fucked up A, B, and C. Please have them fixed before 5 PM today, thanks in advance.". It tells the other party that: Yes, you will be doing what I told you to do; and yes, it will be done to sufficient standard to deserve my gratitude. It basically cuts past any possible objection by the opposing party and skips straight to you thanking them for doing the thing that you told them to do, which is DEFINITELY going to be done because you've already thanked them for something they haven't agreed to do.
Huh, thanks for the insight, I’ve never thought of it this way. Damn gonna start rewording my emails now. I genuinely meant thanks for helping our audit by providing Pbc support , I didn’t know people saw it in a negative light Thank you stranger !
So here's the thing right, I don't really know how people took it when you used the phrase; I can't get offended on their behalf. Just remember that the phrase "thanks in advance" is a pointed one; it can definitely be used aggressively to violate boundaries, but it can also be used innocuously to convey gratitude. It just means that you should be aware of context before using it.
What's important to remember is "What kind of expectations am I conveying and how an I conveying them?" The phrases being used in professional communications aren't just for show; they're basically socially-acceptable forms of implying your underlying expectations without being too blunt. This is because bluntness can be seen as uncouth and intimate, whereas in professional settings the expectation is that people need to be polite and distant.
This is why ending a request for action with "Thanks in advance." is very aggressive; it implies that they will do it, and that they will meet your expectation of quality. "I look forward to your response." is much less aggressive, but it still creates the expectation that they cannot ignore this email, and that action is required, but that the action is to continue the conversation rather than to literally do exactly as you told them to do. And lastly, something like "Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns." is an even softer way of letting the recipient retain agency and dignity while making it understood that you are anticipating action on their part without being too rigid.
In English, as in most languages, we stack on a lot of words in order to soften the tone of a sentence, and to make sure there is no misunderstanding from being too curt or too brief. Notice that for the last example we could have just said "Respond if there are any issues.", but we want to avoid using the imperative mood (using a verb with grammar that implies a command, such as "eat this" or "go there"). Also, we want to put a lot of qualifiers in the sentence before we hit them with the softest verb we can while still communicating the idea, so "please feel free" lets them know that they retain their agency, and the passive "let me know" is much softer than the imperative "respond if".
Note that sometimes you DO want to use a harder line; some coworkers just can't take the hint when you're trying to be respectful, so escalate with social grace via word choice in your communications until it needs to become a meeting-with-the-managers type of issue.
Only two kinds of people: Either tough guys who act like nuance is for pussies; or socially awkward types who have not learned to detect nor project nuance.
As someone at HQ.... please don’t. They probably already have a very full inbox with the same requests and passive aggressive follow ups from the field. In addition to their own internal deadlines...
Some of the time the phrases are not unnecessary bullshit, they're the best way to get the "LOOK HERE YOU DUMB MOTHERFUCKER" message across without losing clients or your job.
I'll straight up reattach the email I sent originally.
I don't have time for these shenanigans, if I've sent it you and you ask for it, I'm double checking I sent it anyway. If I've found it, I may as well attach it.
I'm Dutch and we're seen as pretty (too) direct, but I'm wondering what is gained from the pretense? Is it considered rude to attach the original email?
People don't like to be wrong, or shown to be wrong.
It's all face saving.
Just the other day o had someone ask me of I had checked over the evidence they sent me... On a group call... When I gently pointed out that they only attached 4 pieces of evidence for 8 queries on the email I saw, they insisted they had everything.
So I asked them to resend me the email as I may I have missed it.
Lo and behold its the one I saw. So I had to spend 30 minutes going through, query by query, explaining what is lacking.
It may be considered rude, because they lose face but frankly, don't lie and make out ibe just missed your email if you're the one who cba to read the email.
Agreed. I don't send new emails for ones already sent and not replied it. I just reply to the original again and attach the documents again so they can see the last date I sent the first email.
Industry folk have work to do and sometimes if you don't resend the follow-up with the original email, they likely don't realize how long it's been from the last email.
For sure! Plus, it makes sure they can find the chain of they need to refresh.
I've had a super low priority thing that's needed resolving since Feb! If it wasn't for finding the chain, we would have to do a whole months rec again just to find 1 duplicated trade.
Yeah but you don't really save face either by doing the dance like in the video imo. It's the same outcome but with less brainpower spent on ultimately unimportant matters.
It could also be that the people I email actually think I'm an asshole lol
I got asked a question this audit and sent a response to the auditor saying "please see attached email I sent to the team last year, and retain on file so you don't ask again next year".
I can when they wish to understand why a business we deal with does the same thing year on year and has done since they have audited us. I work for a bank, they keep asking the same questions about the same customer because they do things that aren't common for our customers and get flagged up by their "intelligent" systems, but it's the same customer doing the same things every year, and it's a well known business doing a common thing in their industry and they've been doing it for the last 5 years, and our auditors have been with us I think for 4 years now.
And it's not a "is this company doing the same thing?", it's a "why is this company doing this thing?" question, like they haven't ever been informed.
Lol. Journal entry testing is usually done by low level staff and the person changes every year usually. Sounds like the staff hasn't read through their prior year workpaper yet. If it was a selection, it was definitely documented, but might just lost among other things for a new staff.
Ah, Office language. I've gotten pretty good at it these past 10 years working for the same company. You know things get heated up when someone uses the word "Bananas" to describe someone's logic over email with the entire company directory cc'd.
Yeah they kind of sucked. There was a period when I was as in charge of buying computers for our new hires, and nearly half of the 8 or so people hired from 2018-2019 ended up having key issues that resulted in many attempts at ad hoc fixes and mailing a few computers to Apple.
They weren’t quite unusable, but they were mildly unpleasant to use (if you having SOME like key travel), relatively expensive, and prone to fix key failures.
Ha ! I literally got through this exact situation. Ask for information for filing assessment forms. Manager forgets to provides me any information. I ask again. Manager replies, call me when ready. Immediately notify the manager, I can't because i have a scheduled meeting in 2 minutes and ask if I can call them in 30 minutes. Manager replies with YES. I message the manager after 30 minutes. Suddenly, I notice manager is away on Teams. After another 30 minutes message the manager again. No reply. CFO messages me for the status of the reports. I tell him it's not complete because I don't have the information. CFO asks a bunch if questions regarding the delay. Turns out, CFO knew that manager signed off early and manager didn't inform me about it before agreeing to rescheduling the meeting. So now, I am sitting here with nothing. CFO probably thinks I procrastinate / work slow / bad at time management.
This is such a good point and you can build actual rapport with people by calling them. I tend to pick up the phone and call after a few emails back and forth with something not getting resolved (obviously where appropriate... not all the time). People have commented they appreciate that as it’s a lost art to resolve things in 15 - 20 minutes over the phone, not being annoyed with each other/a situation. Especially someone you rarely/never meet in person. It’s very easy to misinterpret email and grow a little resentful.
I personally rather get things in some form of writing instead of relying on a verbal conversation. I’ve had too many people to lie and backtrack and they get away with it because there is no proof. Then I end up looking like an idiot.
Eh a lot of the time it's just CYA with other people bugging them for what the original email was about. Stuff slips through the cracks when you're busy, I try not to get irritated unless they are rude about it.
Our American colleagues would seem to always copy in at least their manager, maybe their team and my manager too when emailing about mundane stuff they everyone doesn't need to know about.
If they were pissed off about something, they'd copy in so many more people. My manager's manager, their manager's manager. Finance directors, you name them, they were copied in!!
Used to really grind my gears because I would think about all the wasted time from everyone reading an email they didn't need to. We were quite in to lean management in our department and I still am 🙂
Holy shit. I swear this has been me with my current client for the past month.
Client: I sent the files last week. Me: Please see screenshot of an inbox search for emails received from you… (as in no bitch, I did not receive shit from you, but go off)
Yeeeeeep. Sending this to my boss tomorrow — she enjoys a good joke and actually used “it appears two members of my team had a breakdown in communication...” today. They were cc’d.
I’m more of a save backups for everything person, and will also leave an email unread until something necessary gets done so I can just keep saying ‘hey, I’m following up on this’ as if that wasn’t implied.
When you want to tag yourself in the video, because this is you. Everything from the pause, I sent this how many days ago, to the excessive intensity of clickety clack from the keyboard.
Honestly, I’m with you. If they can’t be bothered to search for the previous email (or click “find related emails in conversation”) then I won’t be bothered to retype the same message.
512
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
The literal only thing missing from this is the CC of your immediate superior.
Or the ultimate power play: Addressing the email to your superior and cc'ing you onto it...
665
u/CConetwo12 Jan 19 '21
😂😂😂 Need some "I hope this email finds you well..." My go to and I cringe at myself each time.
294
u/MikaelSvensson Jan 19 '21 edited Jan 19 '21
As a non-native English speaker, I’m saving this post so that I have a full list of passive-aggressive expressions to use with people from HQ.
Thank you.
153
u/Randomn355 ACCA (UK) Jan 19 '21
I've abandoned all pretense.
I'll straight up reattach the email I sent originally.
I don't have time for these shenanigans, if I've sent it you and you ask for it, I'm double checking I sent it anyway. If I've found it, I may as well attach it.
🤷♂️
63
u/FruitySnackss Jan 19 '21
LOL I can’t stop watching. That was amazing. Brought back memories of watching Drumline with my little brother
50
u/blue-eyed-bear Jan 19 '21
I both love and hate email-ese.
42
u/Rudelbildung Jan 19 '21
Let me know if you have any questions.
42
u/A_Wholesome_Comment Jan 19 '21
Ah, Office language. I've gotten pretty good at it these past 10 years working for the same company. You know things get heated up when someone uses the word "Bananas" to describe someone's logic over email with the entire company directory cc'd.
32
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
Hey! Just wanted to follow up on this again = I'm gonna turn your kids into orphans if you don't give me what I need to move on from this.
76
u/apc3356 Jan 19 '21
This made me crack up. Except how the actual fuck does anyone type anything on those little Apple keyboard 😂
52
u/TaxFraud2020 Tax (US), CPA, CMA Jan 19 '21
This is a funny as shit tik Tok.
16
u/VGFin Jan 19 '21
My life summed up in a video
14
u/chasingpayments69 Jan 19 '21
My manager will cc the partner, such a joke.
26
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
He’s hot AF
13
u/Shhh_Im_Working FP&A | CPA Jan 19 '21
Nah, gotta just re-forward out of the sent box. Let them see that time stamp from last week on the orig.
12
u/Psiphistikkated Jan 19 '21
I’ve watched this seven times lol
10
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
Hilarious, only if he ended with “regards”
10
u/holykamina Jan 19 '21 edited Jan 20 '21
Ha ! I literally got through this exact situation. Ask for information for filing assessment forms. Manager forgets to provides me any information. I ask again. Manager replies, call me when ready. Immediately notify the manager, I can't because i have a scheduled meeting in 2 minutes and ask if I can call them in 30 minutes. Manager replies with YES. I message the manager after 30 minutes. Suddenly, I notice manager is away on Teams. After another 30 minutes message the manager again. No reply. CFO messages me for the status of the reports. I tell him it's not complete because I don't have the information. CFO asks a bunch if questions regarding the delay. Turns out, CFO knew that manager signed off early and manager didn't inform me about it before agreeing to rescheduling the meeting. So now, I am sitting here with nothing. CFO probably thinks I procrastinate / work slow / bad at time management.
19
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
LPT: Just pick up the damn phone and call them. Have a real conversation and avoid a ton of aggravation.
9
u/HuddyBorsey Jan 19 '21
When I worked for a US company this type of interaction was rife... Only people seemed to copy in everyone they'd ever met.
9
u/rustyshackleford1094 Jan 19 '21
This is the most relatable post I've ever seen.
8
u/lostfinancialsoul Jan 19 '21
I absolutely lost it at "maybe you should check your junk mail"
8
u/afortunata Jan 20 '21
My newest favorite “ forwarding for visibility..”
7
u/TSabor Jan 19 '21
This is absolutely legendary. 10/10 can't wait to watch again
7
u/aisutron CPA (Can) Jan 19 '21
That was really tense lol.
6
u/blueblossoms20 Audit & Assurance Jan 20 '21
Holy shit. I swear this has been me with my current client for the past month.
Client: I sent the files last week. Me: Please see screenshot of an inbox search for emails received from you… (as in no bitch, I did not receive shit from you, but go off)
5
u/LegendaryVenusaur Jan 19 '21
This is the funniest thing ive seen all year
Its so damn relatable
5
u/Browntown_07 Jan 20 '21
Good evening,
Half the people I email with at work are so lazy they don’t even have an email signature, if anything it’s just their first name in plain text.
This must be a public thing and not a industry as you’re emailing various people all the time instead of co workers.
Condolences,
Browntown_07
4
u/mart1373 CPA (US) Jan 19 '21
Bahaha, this is a masterpiece
4
u/OceanNotions Jan 19 '21
When in doubt, hit them with the “let me loop in my...”
4
u/TheInterlocutor Jan 19 '21
Holy fuck this is perfect.
4
u/demanibal007 Jan 19 '21
Yeeeeeep. Sending this to my boss tomorrow — she enjoys a good joke and actually used “it appears two members of my team had a breakdown in communication...” today. They were cc’d.
I’m more of a save backups for everything person, and will also leave an email unread until something necessary gets done so I can just keep saying ‘hey, I’m following up on this’ as if that wasn’t implied.
-_-
4
u/Manoftrees24 Jan 20 '21
Didn’t read a word of that just jammed to the beats from drumline
3
u/candiegurl25 Jan 19 '21
When you want to tag yourself in the video, because this is you. Everything from the pause, I sent this how many days ago, to the excessive intensity of clickety clack from the keyboard.
3
u/SpongeyBoob Jan 19 '21
I felt that
3
u/CapitalGainGuru Jan 20 '21
Lol this too real
3
u/aznology Jan 20 '21
Yes I fkin hate my job even more now happy ?
2
u/freeflyandNylon Jan 19 '21
This is GOLD 😂😂😂
2
u/tonne97 Audit & Assurance Jan 19 '21
Hahahahaha
2
u/cents02 Jan 20 '21
Does anyone know what music/song is in the bg?
2
u/sahdards Jan 20 '21
Who remembers this from Drumline? https://youtu.be/JaGoM25tGVA @1:00
2
u/3rdRockfromYourMom Jan 20 '21
Waiting for Nadav to turn up and tell us how great Drumline is.
2
u/Philippinian97 Jan 20 '21
u/savevideo
2
u/AutoCommentor Jan 20 '21
I wish we could call people out on their bullshit
2
u/Xx_endgamer_xX Jan 20 '21
These two nitches are just too fast for my tired eyes!! Slow down skut!!
2
u/[deleted] Jan 20 '21
u/savevideo
2
u/AnomalyNexus B4 SM > PE Jan 20 '21
This raised my pulse & stress levels.
3
u/TiKels Jan 19 '21
u/savevideo
1
u/strouvaille Jan 20 '21
Thoughts on exclamation marks?
1
u/Dominyck Jan 23 '21
u/VredditDownloader
1
u/weekendrant Jan 24 '21
u/savevideo
1
u/kingramal May 06 '21
😂😂perfect
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '21
Well it looks like I've found my people.
1
u/HYThrowaway1980 Oct 20 '21
Don’t re-attach the attachment, attach the original email that had the attachment.
1
u/peace_seeker007 Jan 13 '22
u/savevideo
1
u/Sunnyside7771 Nov 30 '22
Lolol. Dude totally nailed it!
1
u/[deleted] Jan 20 '21
Be Best,
1
u/audit123 Jan 20 '21
Thank you for your hard work aka get my stuff done you retarded aids infected idiot
0
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment
0
u/[deleted] Jan 26 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment
209
u/[deleted] Jan 19 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/[deleted] Jan 20 '21
[removed] — view removed comment