'Really bad. Hope this helps!': Unhappy employee horrified when they send accidental email to boss

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 22, 2024 3:00 PM EST

This worker got way too candid with their boss, and was cringing hard as they waited for a reply. 

There's a culture of gallows humor at some workplaces, as this person can tell you all about. Amid layoffs and a struggling department lacking leadership, morale was very low here. When basically every employee is unhappy each day and actively searching for new work, it can feel like misery is in the air at all times. This person had a funny quip in reply to their boss's email… and they accidentally sent it! Instead of making their coworkers giggle, this person spent a night fearing for their job. They must've been mortified as they waited for the boss to reply to some biting criticism of her leadership. However, it seems like she tried to take it in stride. You can read this person's frightful experience with their email being sent to the wrong person, as well as comments from people who were eagerly awaiting that update, down below. 

Up next, this family is feuding over their 8-year-old daughter's right to read during the family vacation, with the mom admitting that "My MIL and FIL have spent the entire breakfast scowling at me."

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    via Jason Briscoe on Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    ✓ r/tifu Posted by u/kpmurphy56 TIFU by drafting a joke reply to my boss' email and accidentally hitting send S We had layoffs last year at my company and my department has been struggling ever since. The executive who oversees our department is barely ever in the office and rarely interacts with us. I think it's clear that we've been pretty unhappy though, and she finally emailed me asking how I thought the morale was in the office.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 03
    Without thinking I drafted up a ride joke reply with the intention of screenshotting it and sharing it with a couple of close coworkers just to have a laugh.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 04
    My reply simply read: "Really fting bad. Hope this helps!" And I signed my name. And then I accidentally hit send.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 05
    She hasn't replied yet but I quickly replied again to apologize and explain that sometimes I draft joke replies just as a method to vent my frustrations and that It'll never happen again. Now I keep refreshing my inbox waiting for her reply.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 06
    I hope I'm not in too deep here, but at the very least it made my coworkers di laughing when I told them what happened TL;DR: I drafted a r de email response to my boss and accidentally hit send
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 07
    UPDATE Just an update for anyone wondering, since she hadn't replied last night I assumed she may not reply all weekend, but I woke up to an email from her this morning. Here's a snippet:
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 08
    "Don't worry about the joke _____. I understand that gallows humor can sometimes be cathartic. It does worry me that the morale really may be that low in the department though, so I'm hoping we can meet early next week to discuss ways I can alleviate stress for your team and address any other concerns you may have. Let me know if there are other team members you'd like to attend this meeting."
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 09
    So actually not bad at all, although I'm still fairly embarrassed. I'm also not convinced of the sincerity of her response based on past actions but I'm cautiously optimistic! Ps thanks for all the advice on email recalls and delayed sends, I'll be looking into both of those!
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 10
    ChebbiesPebbies +2. Oof. Big oof. Really hoping for an update.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 11
    Arthiem +2. Although if op lost the job, at least it was a c py one
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 12
    Parafault +1. Honestly, if he didn't swear in the reply, this would have been the perfect response and she might have appreciated the honesty. That one little word changes it all though! PS: Protip: always delete all names from the address box and subject line when you do this. Then if you do accidentally press send, it won't let you since there is no subject and no one to send it to.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 13
    MissAnthropoid +3. This is a great opportunity. Get your team together and collectively decide on a united message to send at this upcoming meeting. Make it meaningful - eg. you ALL want significantly more money to compensate for the increased workload, OR you want to be adequately staffed again, as you were before the layoffs, so that the increased workload is reduced back to manageable levels.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 14
    Don't be satisfied with something stupid like a pizza party or new chairs. Make real demands. Every time I've been asked my a manager what would make me "happier" in my role, I've said "more money". And it has worked, every time, because it was backed by my complete willingness to just leave if I don't get more money. They HATE that - one guy said "ARGH! IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE HOLDING A KNIFE TO MY THROAT!" but I still got my money.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 15
    kpmurphy56 OP +3 I'll definitely form a plan. But I don't expect much, the leaders here are so tone deaf. The week they got rid of bonuses the ceo held a meeting for employees to voice their concerns, and any time someone spoke up he threw a KitKat to them as a reward and said "good job!" Like we are house pets.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 16
    thirdeyefish +2. If it helps ANYBODY. I never fill the recipient line until I am ready to send. If a reply all situation, I will compose the message in a different window.
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 17
    grimthaw +2. Also delay send for 5 minutes
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 18
    borisherman Yea. Well I found the hard way that Apple Mail is happy to send emails without a To: field and will deliver to anyone that is in CC: or BCC: fields
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 19
    speculatrix Everybody else: "it's funny because it's true"
    via u/kpmurphy56
  • 20
    Rekt_lunch +1. Firings will continue until morale improves!
    via u/kpmurphy56

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