'It was an email I would NEVER send': Coworker signs intern's name on unprofessional email, intern speaks to boss, coworker gets fired

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 11, 2023 2:00 PM EST

Who doesn't have nightmares about work emails? Whether it's you sending an email to the wrong person or receiving a dreaded email from your manager, we all have anxiety concerning the ubiquitous phenomenon that is emailing. Sometimes, I even get anxious about sending someone without an attachment or with an egregious typo, especially in my early working days as an intern. In fact, I can't imagine the stress this intern was under when she opened her work email one day only to discover that her annoying coworker sent an unprofessional email to 600 people with her name signed at the bottom.

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  • 01
    "I told him he had taken things too far" = M Gmail + Compose Q Search mail C: Primary Devel
    via Stephen Phillips

  • This thread was posted to Reddit's r/AmiTheA**hole subreddit by u/PaleontologistMore74, and from what we can tell, the coworker didn't intend to sabotage OP but rather had the worst office etiquette and the poorest judgment. He even garnered a reputation for this, which is why it was lucky when OP went to their boss, explained the situation, and was met with a certain level of understanding. We also empathize with OP's stress regarding the whole situation because as an intern, you never want to mess up and you don't want to gain a poor reputation just because of someone else's incompetence. Thankfully, not only did OP come out of the drama unscathed,but her coworker appropriately suffered the consequences.

    Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best responses from folks in the comments section. For more tales of workplace drama, here is a list of stories about managers who had to fire people on their first day.

  • 02
    AITA for sharply telling my coworker NOT to sign my name on emails he sends to 600 people? Not the Update Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback. As many of you read - I told my boss about what happened, was backed by my coworkers (unasked - people just don't like Matt) and Matt was asked not to come back to work.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 03
    Some suggested sending a follow- up email to clarify it wasn't me who sent the original. I completely understand why that was mentioned - but my job is so unimportant I think that would just come off as irritating and unprofessional.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 04
    For clarity - our position is one with AmeriCorps - we are paid next to nothing and the organization we work for gets us for free. In order to be fired you have to be really fic annoying. Matt was that today. Thank you again to each of you xoxo
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 05
    I (23F) work for a nationwide program in a small city as an intern. 23(M) "Matt" (not his real name) is my co-intern. Our roles are equal. While Matt is kind to me, he is also somewhat clueless about "office etiquette" of any kind. We are both in "low" roles (interns) within our department - we are there to help out and complete small tasks, we do not have subordinates, nor do we manage or head large tasks.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 06
    In the last 6 months, Matt has advised one company's CEO to "finish up" while he spoke during a meeting, has bossed other interns around, invited himself to lunch or private events that other employees discussed, asked inappropriate questions, taken incorrect initiatives and in general, is unpleasant and difficult to work with.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 07
    We were recently tasked with creating a small community event. Matt took on the role of emailing smaller vendors and nonprofits around our city, asking them for help with our event. Without telling me, Matt sent an email to 600 people in our city, some of them being key players/CEOs. The email asked for money (which was we were not allowed to do), used improper grammar, contained incorrect information, and frankly, was embarrassing. It insinuated that nonprofits should dedicate their time to hel
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 08
    That means that 600 people, in a city where I would like to one day get a full-time job and begin my career, received an inappropriate email with my name attached. I was furious. Matt and I sit side by side in a cubicle, I asked him point blank how he could've done such a thing without running it past me.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 09
    He told me he thought I would agree with the email, and that he had asked our boss. (I asked her - she had told him not to sign my name). I told him he had taken things too far, has no etiquette or manners, and that he has a negative reputation in our department and within the enter facility. Other interns heard our conversation and nodded in agreement.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 10
    Matt said I was "mean" and that my comments were "uncalled for". I have tried to be patient, but our roles are so closely associated that I am genuinely afraid his behavior might lose me a career within this city. I honestly believe I have been nicer to Matt than I should be. Was I wrong to raise my voice, say what I did and humiliate him?
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 11
    SociallyIneptRaccoon 14 days ago | NTA . Other comments have mentioned that you didn't have a right to come at him point blank but since you're an intern, I can understand that you let your frustration get to you. This is why I advise people to start their internships younger so when they enter the work force in their early twenties, they're ahead of the game. You didn't have that opportunity and that's OK, you're learning now and so is Matt.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 12
    The matter of him signing an email with your name.. I would have printed out the email and set up a conference with you, Matt and your supervisor or manager. It is management's job to correct such behavior and Matt isn't just hurting you but he's also hurting the company's image. That's something worth bringing up in a meeting.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 13
    If higher management is not correcting Matt, ask yourself why and try to observe the environment management is running. Do they not correct him because while Matt has poor etiquette, does he get results? Is management busy and considers matters between interns to be child's play? Or is management lazy or burnt out?
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 14
    Consider talking to the other interns that were in your favor. Ask them if they would be willing to talk to management about Matt's inappropriate verbiage and the way he sticks words in other people's mouths. Consider management's response and whether you'd like to work in such an environment based on their response and policies.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 15
    Be stern, but not . Be assertive but cool. Mention the issues but don't be accusatory. And management loves if you suggest a solution. Maybe you and Matt could use mentors to learn the do's and dont's of corporate communications and office etiquette.
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 16
    Talk to management but don't be accusatory. Offer solutions and remain calm and flexible but don't take anyone's Lastly, above everything else, find some people you look up to and ask them if they'd be willing to be your mentors so they can offer advice on issues like these and so many others in the future! Best of luck. NTA 721 Reply Share
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 17
    Paleontologist More74 OP. 14 days ago Thank you for this awesome and thorough response! I appreciate your feedback. I did let my boss know, and other colleagues complained about him, so he was let go today. I appreciate you!! 396 Reply Share
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 18
    justaheatattack 14 days ago ΝΤΑ you NEVER sign someone elses name. That's called fraud. 149 Reply Share
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 19
    Tokugawa 14 days ago NTA. But rat him out to your boss and let her discipline him. 81 ♡ Reply Share
    via u/PaleontologistMore74
  • 20
    panic bread 14 days ago . Of course you weren't wrong. I'm surprised your boss didn't fire him immediately. NTA
    via u/PaleontologistMore74

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terrible coworkers aita workplace-stories toxic-workplace work coworkers reddit thread interns Reddit toxic-work-environment
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