We're still making mistakes with Email

Years ago I worked with an absolutely lovely girl who got an email from a German client which had a list of requests in a stereotypically German style (efficient, clipped, not personable). She thought she'd forwarded it to a colleague with the comment saying "bloody typical German" ... only she didn't send it to her colleague she hit reply!   She was found by another colleague rolling around the floor in tears after being unable to stop the email leaving the main server.

Then, again about five years ago, I had the friend who hit reply instead of forward and just wrote back to a client who'd decided not to proceed with her candidate saying "bum" (somehow she managed to cover that off by pretending she hit send too soon and that there was more - inoffensive - email to come!).

Well, we've all done it at some point, and just because email has been around for years it doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to take care.

Just today I got an email from a recruiter I used to work with (neither of the people above) who had done a charity run and had sent all his contacts an email to say thanks for their support.

The first error wasn't that bad - he'd cc'd us all rather than bcc'ing us.  It wasn't ideal as we (as I could tell from the email addresses!) were a mix of his clients, friends, candidates, etc. 

However, the second error was one that actually made me feel a little sick on his behalf.

I scrolled down to see the end of his sig file (don't ask me why!) and I could see there was another message below.   Which turned out to be to one of his clients (who was on the cc list).  It read:

"xxxx is currently earning £78k basic, £5k car allowance, bonus to 25% salary, final salary pension, 28 days holiday".  It then went on to name the company she works for and made it clear she was still in employment there.

I've no idea if anyone else on the cc list has noticed and I really can't bring myself to call him up to point out the error (although I know I should).

However, I am sharing it here as a warning to us all.  Think before you type and PAUSE before you hit send!

Comments

[The Blunter Headhunter]

Yeah - I've made a few howlers like that in my time.

Like the time I referred to the Chairman of the firm as "sausage wallet" and accidentally forwarded the email chain on to my boss.

That was a carpeting I shall not soon forget.