‘Kiss getting a full-time offer goodbye’: CEO of small company sends mass email talking down to the intern, gets private follow up email saying the intern was actually in the right

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Sep 11, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

In some careers paths, many employees have to start with an internship. That usually entails non-paid or very low-pay work you do for a company in order to get "experience." If you have been in the job market at all these days, then you will have noticed that many places require a certain amount of years in experience before even being considered as a hire. So that's when internships come in handy. You can have little to no experience and work your way up. 

Interns are the lowest on the hierarchy or the company, so everyone knows to treat them with a little grace, give them a break. Mistakes will be made and they are there to learn from them. One thing a company should not do, especially the CEO of a company, is embarrass an intern in front of all of the employees. This intern, unfortunately, experienced just that. 

One day during a WFH day, the entire small company gets an email from the CEO berating the intern for not doing their job perfectly. He did not hold back on putting down this intern, it was brutal. Then, not too long after, the intern receives a private email assuring her that she actually did not mess up. However, the damage was done. The CEO just embarrassed her in front of the entire company. How would you proceed? See what others think below! 

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  • 01
    "He was intentionally trying to embarass me... I'm definitely not embarassed anymore [because] it reflects more on my boss than me..."
    via StartupStockPhotos via Pexels
  • 02
    Boss sent email to entire company berating me- next moves? So I'm currently an intern and the email was sent by the CEO of the company. He essentially called me incompetent, used lots of exclamation points, and reprimanded me for following the directions that I was given. It was extremely unprofessional, especially considering I did exactly what I was told to do by my boss. I feel
    via Vannahkate
  • 03
    extremely embarassed and am just dreading going into work tomorrow (this email was sent on a telework day), especially because he sent it to everyone I work with, even though it has nothing to do with most of them. I feel like he was intentionally trying to embarass me, and it worked. Later that day I even got an email stating the instructions of the project that said I was correct and he was not. I'm truly dreading going to work tomorrow, I just want some kind of advice on how to handle this si
    via Vannahkate
  • 04
    Edit: (the company is a small business with 10 employees and really no chain of command.) Also, thank you everyone for your advice! I didn't expect this much support. My internship is supposed to end by now anyway but I was never given a specific end date, I'll make sure to ask for one tomorrow. I'm definitely not embarassed anymore bc I agree it reflects more on my boss than me, though I can kiss getting a full-time offer goodbye. I'll update if any goes down tomorrow
    via Vannahkate
  • 05
    Arratril 22h ago Any chance the internship is through partnership with a college program? (Mine was) if so, be sure to let the head of the department know about the behavior.
    via Arratril
  • 06
    That-1-Red-Shirt • 21h ago If it is I would ABSOLUTELY forward that email to the advisor/professor overseeing the internship.
    via That-1-Red-Shirt
  • 07
    Tashawatie • 19h ago I used to work with one and ABSOLUTELY tell them if this applies - you'll be extracted and replaced without fault - of course they'll investigate but you could just fwd the org. Wide email and have the school team work for you.... That ucks man!!!!
    via Tashawatie
  • 08
    FionaTheFierce • 22h ago Your supervisor/manager should be running interference on this one to take the criticism for whatever directions you were given and to manage the CEO. Sounds like a terrible toxic environment and worth looking for another job/internship ASAP.
    via FionaTheFierce
  • 09
    TheTomCorp • 21h ago Imagine being the CEO of the company and feeling the need to berate an intern. What is missing in his life that he chose this route. I don't want to give bad advice, but I'd certainly use the opportunity to reply all, show the instructions, the CEO is wrong, and get fired a legend.
    via TheTomCorp
  • 10
    DetroiterInTX • 21h ago This is the right approach. Sit with your supervisor, and ask why you got this email when you followed the instructions given. The email by CEO was completely inappropriate and unprofessional.
    via DetroiterInTX
  • 11
    mackfactor 10h ago • My guess is that everyone knows the CEO is a moron. This will make a good story to talk about "what you learned" in job interviews.
    via mackfactor
  • 12
    Ijustwanttolookatpor 22h ago Reply All, attach the instructions.
    via Ijustwanttolookatpor
  • 13
    jklolffgg • 21h ago An intern "failing" at ANY task is not a failure of the intern, it's a failure of the leadership of the organization.
    via jklolffgg
  • 14
    Plzcuturshit • 22h ago • Op, you're an intern this is the best clap back. I would move on, but I'd clap back. You're an intern and have interaction with the company leadership, the roles you'd develop into would require you to cultivate professional relationships at this company and the CEO burned any chance of that. Professionalism was thrown out - replying all with the instructions and a is the GOAT move. I'd probably indicate in the response to have them send you a label to return any equipme
    via Plzcutur*hit
  • 15
    pezx 20h ago I'd play dumb here. Hi [Ceo], These were the instructions I was given, can you help me understand where I went wrong? Thanks Then Whoops, sorry everyone, I didn't mean to reply all; how unprofessional. My apologies,
    via pezx
  • 16
    Euthyphraud • 21h ago And then return confidently and keep your head held high. When the boss inevitably blows their lid on you for the reply all, very calmly hold your own and confront them. May not end well, but sounds like this job isn't going to end well anyway. Keep in mind, if this boss did this to you he has done it to others. Other employees are already aware this person is an awful human being - and they won't be looking at you poorly, they'll be judging your boss poorly. The employees
    via Euthyphraud
  • 17
    • WouldYouKindly818 ⚫ 22h ago Yeah, I would do this. Just because they are your employer, that doesn't give them the right to berate you. Speaking up here is NOT the wrong thing to do. I think you can get your message across this way while still coming off as professional to the rest of your team. If anything, this might help you win more people to your side, which will put the CEO in a (deserved) uncomfortable situation.
    via WouldYouKindly818
  • 18
    bopperbopper • 22h ago Reply all, attaching the instructions: "Boss I'm confused. You sent an email saying that I should've been doing X but the project instructions clearly say I'm supposed to be doing Y. Could you please explain the discrepancy?" Then I might talk to the boss' boss or your intern coordinator about this and say that you're learning about office norms is part of an internship, but it seems to you that calling out an intern in front of everyone and not even checking if you're rig
    via bopperbopper
  • 19
    Anniegottaretire58 • 22h ago I don't have any advice about going in... but I had a similar incident in a group text. I texted back that it wasn't my job and I was not going to do it. I wrote a letter and an email and quit that day at the end of my shift. I worked weekends so nobody was there. I am sure your coworkers know . If not, it's it was just a being a time to move on.
    via Anniegottaretire58
  • 20
    No_Carry 3991 • 20h ago No matter what you decide to do, when you go in there, you hold your head up and act if you have to but be tough without being offensive. Hands down at your sides, don't fidget and look everyone dead straight in the eyes. No one at your job has made no mistakes or never been yelled at or disciplined. Including your Keep that in mind. And I have to agree with the reply all suggestion. Fight back. boss. It's a habit you will need to cultivate for the future. Professionality
    via No_Carry_3991
  • 21
    anders9000 • 19h ago Career advice: Leave this toxic environment asap. If you're unpaid, leave effective immediately. If it's a college internship, forward the details the coordinator and explain talk about a new internship. Life advice: Bullies almost always back down when you reflect their behaviour back at them. You have nothing to gain from this place, and this is a good lesson in standing up for yourself. It's not about insulting him back, but I would personally make it clear in no uncertai
    via anderson9000

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