Business/Job Ethics question

[just dave]

I have been "cc'ed" an email that should not have been sent to me, covering the company that I work for business plan for 05-06, that (reading not so carefully between the lines) discusses my job being eliminated and no new position being offered or available to me or anyone else doing my work. I took my current job under the assurance for my direct superior that there was not going to be a problem like this, in this division on the West Coast/Western States.

I was copied by mistake, from once being on a middle mgr. mail-list when I filled in as the "Jr. Ass't. to the Ass't. Substitute Ass't. Area Manager", and someone has obviously used a very old mail list.

My question is this:

What are my options here?

1. Do nothing, and carry on as if nothing happened.
2. Delete the email and notify the sender of the mis-delivery.
3. Keep the email and schedule a meeting with my boss to discuss my future.
4. Forward the email to my co-workers from a Public Terminal.
5. Do a Michael Douglas (in "Falling Down") to my regional HQ.

Very, very unhappy with this, and I need to put this up where NO ONE will know it is me posting this info. I have spent a good amount of money making a transfer for this Co., and I don't have any way to easily recover my out-of-pocket expenses. Very, VERY pissed right now.

Good thing I never took that Postal Worker job...

Dave

>>> Edited by just dave on Tuesday 25th January 00:36

[Muncher]

Find another job before you do anything.

Then forward the e-mail to all staff from an anonymous account, i.e. a hotmail one from an internet Cafe.

[paddy27]

HI
Sounds a silly question but are you 100% sure it is a genuine e-mail. If so you have my sympathy.
Hope you get it sorted.

Andrew

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Sure it's not a double bluff? E-mailed by accident eh?

I'd send a reply to all the recipients "Was this sent by mistake?"

[just dave]

paddy27 said:

HI Sounds a silly question but are you 100% sure it is a genuine e-mail. If so you have my sympathy. Hope you get it sorted. Andrew

99% positive, as it came in with my usual assortment of "Forwarded" crap that my Boss, who is too stupid to see that the person who sent HER the mail -that she spends so-o-o much time forwarding- has ALREADY SENT THE MAIL TO US, in the FIRST place!

Thanks for the thoughts. I just need a job, now.

[just dave]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

Sure it's not a double bluff? E-mailed by accident eh? I'd send a reply to all the recipients "Was this sent by mistake?"

Thought of that. Not very likely. I am not up for any promotions, sales suck, another Co. is making large inroads and sales are steady, with the new competition slowing growth.
I am not high enough on the food chain to be a 'player'. As soon as I make some more calls this week to try to get a job, I may try that. I surely want to see my lying, cheating bitch boss squirm, along with the lying bastards who have THEIR JOBS covered.

[carsarecool]

I'd ditto what Muncher said...find another job and then give it to 'em, big style.

Let your co-workers know what kind of company they're working for.

Still, all big companies are the same.

Difficult being a cog in a big mechanism, other cogs not in your control going wrong effect you without your control.

Sympathies, move on, find a company that appreciates you.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

just dave said:

2 Smokin Barrels said: Sure it's not a double bluff? E-mailed by accident eh? I'd send a reply to all the recipients "Was this sent by mistake?" Thought of that. Not very likely. I am not up for any promotions, sales suck, another Co. is making large inroads and sales are steady, with the new competition slowing growth. I am not high enough on the food chain to be a 'player'. As soon as I make some more calls this week to try to get a job, I may try that. I surely want to see my lying, cheating bitch boss squirm, along with the lying bastards who have THEIR JOBS covered.

Good luck mate

[chim_girl]

just dave said:

(reading not so carefully between the lines)

just dave said:

....discusses my job being eliminated and no new position being offered or available to me or anyone else doing my work. I took my current job under the assurance for my direct superior that there was not going to be a problem like this

Are you sure that the role is going to be open to others? Could the situation be that the company knew it was going to go through a 'rationalisation' when you were offered the position. Perhaps you are earmarked for this new job and they're simply going through the motions so they can get rid of some of the existing deadwood. My employer carries out this kind of internal restructure whenever we have a senior bod who has been over promoted.

Good luck.

>> Edited by chim_girl on Monday 24th January 22:39

[love machine]

Get a surfboard, you're not dead yet!

[simpo two]

You could always try the direct route - take it to the HR dept and say 'What's this about then?'

[just dave]

chim_girl said:

just dave said: (reading not so carefully between the lines) just dave said: ....discusses my job being eliminated and no new position being offered or available to me or anyone else doing my work. I took my current job under the assurance for my direct superior that there was not going to be a problem like this Are you sure that the role is going to be open to others? Could the situation be that the company knew it was going to go through a 'rationalisation' when you were offered the position. Perhaps you are 'earmarked' for this new job and they're simply going through the motions so they can get rid of some of the existing deadwood. My employer carries out this kind of internal restructure whenever we have a senior bod who has been over promoted. Good luck.

Hi Chim(less)_girl!

I'm the junior person in my sales team, I'm afraid. It is not likely that I have impressed the bigger bosses with my lackluster sales results -which are better that 75% of everyone else's- but under projection, just the same. Oh, yes. There have been some over-promotions. The most likely candidate to keep his job (not including my lick-spittle, worthless, toady of a boss) is a well educated, good looking guy who could not manufacture a wet dream if you supplied the "wet" and a 40 page, full-color manual. He velcro's himself to the bosses, does little of the actual background work and somehow gets the credit for turning out amazing amounts of work!!!!

I am also one of the oldest non-managers around, having started working when I was young as college did not interest me. I am paying for that now, as the wit working with me, who I have to prevent myself from thinking of as using as soil amendment for my roses, has a "Fine Arts" degree. I have had to train the last 4 co-workers, since this goof can't seem to train anyone. They all call me.
Did I say I am angry??

How are you this evening? I came across some interesting reading about supplimentation with some natural products for anti-inflammitory help. It mentioned all the usuall suspects: Wine, beer, beef, many grains that could cause allergic-like reactions as things that should be reduced in the diet. Awful to contemplate, huh?

Dave

[just dave]

simpo two said:

You could always try the direct route - take it to the HR dept and say 'What's this about then?'

Hi S2,

Yeah, that is probably my next step, after lining up some interviews. Thing is, it does not say "xx out of xx people of sales team Z are gone." "Continued down-turn", "R-I-F likely", "diminished sales share" is what is written. I had this happen to me almost ten years ago, and I took this job to keep me from dealing with this exact same thing then!!!

[mgp1969]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

Sure it's not a double bluff? E-mailed by accident eh? I'd send a reply to all the recipients "Was this sent by mistake?"

Good idea, i reckon, depending on employment/labour law in the US - I was erroneosuly copied into an email (rather rude, i thought) by the other side of a deal only last week. when i asked whether it was sent to me in error, they were rather apologetic (and subsequently yielded on most of the issues i was supposedely being "unreasonable" about)

at the very least, print it off, if the worst happens and you lose your job without consultation, you may have a case (although I stress I know nothing about employment/labour law i either Uk or US)

forewarned is forearmed - build your case while they are not aware that you know what might happen (actually, this contradicts my respond to the email advice, come to think of it)

good luck

[just dave]

Bump. More to come later today US time.

[Chim_Girl]

just dave said:

guy who could not manufacture a wet dream if you supplied the "wet" and a 40 page, full-color manual.

Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour!

just dave said:

I came across some interesting reading about supplimentation with some natural products for anti-inflammitory help. It mentioned all the usuall suspects: .... Awful to contemplate, huh?

However, I'd be very interested in reading more, particulary as I'm now officially 'on the wagon' and trying to develop a taste for oats!

BTW - if you decide to take the kamikaze option and distributing the email, you could always ask someone to drop into a UK based internet cafe and send it for you.

[Mr E]

love machine said:

Get a surfboard, you're not dead yet!

But the Falling Down option with water pistols sounds fun.

[just dave]

UPDATE!! UPDATE!!!

I did the sensible thing, "REPLY to ALL" "Was this sent to me by mistake??", first thing this morning.

And waited.

Checked mail this afternoon.

Has this stirred things up????? YOU BETCHA, IT HAS!!!

I have people emailing me that I have never spoken to or seen in all my time with this company! Regional V.P.'s, of several different Departments have mailed me, 4 different Human Resources people, from 4 different locations are reminding me that there is a 'Confidentiality Statement' in our hire packet, and just to remind me, they are forwarding a copy for my review- all FOUR of them -and new signature.

Also, since I was not an intended recipient of the email, I am to delete it from my "In Box" at once, and confirm this with my boss.

OH, and the cherry on top of this monstrosity is I am to do all this without telling my boss what the details are in this matter!!!! Like I am going to tell this usless, bloated excuse for a Supervisor ANYTHING at all ABOUT HER BEING OUT OF A JOB????? ARE YOU JOKING?????

I am thinking of having a go at HR though, as since my name was on the email, how can I not be an "Intended Recepient"???? It's not like I read it over someones shoulder, or accessed their computer and copied their email, right?????

I am still so angry!! My fingers fail to transfer the mass of seething rage and the venomous thoughts contained in me!!!

Left to do is answer all the voice-mail and pages I have received today.


Anyone know the proper technique in the use of a Biro????

Strictly in SELF-DEFENSE. Honest. REALLY!!!


Dave



>> Edited by just dave on Tuesday 25th January 23:08

[just dave]

Chim_Girl said:

just dave said: guy who could not manufacture a wet dream if you supplied the "wet" and a 40 page, full-color manual. Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour! just dave said: I came across some interesting reading about supplimentation with some natural products for anti-inflammitory help. It mentioned all the usuall suspects: .... Awful to contemplate, huh? However, I'd be very interested in reading more, particulary as I'm now officially 'on the wagon' and trying to develop a taste for oats! BTW - if you decide to take the kamikaze option and distributing the email, you could always ask someone to drop into a UK based internet cafe and send it for you.

YHM

Dave

[HiRich]

Dave,
I think you did the right thing by replying innocently. Next steps.
- Print two copies of the email. If the gossip is in an attachment, file it under a different name and print it.
- Do not email a copy around, or off site (traceable)
- Take a hard copy home (not tonight, tomorrow). Keep the other filed away where it will never be found (try placing it under the bottom drawer). If you were really suspicious, you would beware of security cameras.
- Delete the original from your sytem.
- Take time to read the Confidentiality clauses these people were kind enough to send you, particularly any reference to internal and external confidentiality.
- Keep very quiet. Deny all knowledge of it if questioned.

Oh, and go find another job