I informed a co-worker I was athiest after she forwarded me about a dozen Christian-related e-mails. She still continues to foward them to me. She is "higher" than me in our workplace. What's the best way to ask her to stop?
2007-01-26 08:17:46 · 32 answers · asked by dorothykimball 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Believe me, I understand how frustrating this is. Luckily, there are a few ways to handle this. While she probably isn't trying to be malicious (at least that would be my guess without knowing her), I would say it is definitely inappropriate in a work environment to send personal emails, especially if they're being sent to a corporate email account. But I would give her the benefit of the doubt. She may just have you on a forward list without realizing it. If that's the case, and you really want to, you could take it up with your supervisor, assuming she's not your direct supervisor. A third mediating party is usually best in my proffessional experience, if only to offer outside advice and maintain cool tempers. If it really makes you uncomfortable, you could also anonymously report her to a higher power than either of you. Assumming you're not working for some private religious institution, her personal and religious emails are likely a violation of company policy, BUT, you can only make a case for it if they're being sent to a corporate emaill address.
Still, if you can remove pride and principle from the situation, I think there's an even easier way to cut out her annoying emails without her ever knowing.
If you use your personal address for both business and personal correspondence, I would start by setting up a new account for business related emails, and then send everyone in the office an email explaining that due to the volume of personal emails you've been receiving, you're setting up a business only email address to help improve your work efficiency. Be clear that any personal emails should be sent to your personal email account, and that anything with "FWD" in the subject line will be automatically sorted and deleted from your business account (fairly standard practice anyway, more on that in a moment). If she's any kind of superior, she can't argue with enhanced work performance.
Then, it's as easy as setting up filters under the email settings option. If you want to, you can choose to have her email address completely filtered out from your personal mailbox and have her forwards sent to a separate folder that is then immediately deleted so you never even see them. Or, if she's somebody you occasionally get personal work invites from, set up keywords like "Christ, Jesus, Religion and/or FWD" (if you just don't like forwards in general). Then, emails containing those words will automatically be filtered out and dumped into your immediate delete folder.
Above all, try to keep the situation in perspective and try to take her gestures for what they most likely are: her way of showing you she cares about you.
2007-01-26 09:14:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry that she hasn't respected you opinion in this matter. (I'm a Christian myself and I hate it when I hear things like this)
Perhaps you can put a filter on her e-mails that look for Christian specific words. Jesus, God, angels, etc. Then you would greatly reduce the bulk of what you are receiving and it wouldn't stop you from getting business e-mails.
If you prefer a more direct route, perhaps you can review your company's e-mail policy (I'm sure there's one that relates to personal e-mails on company time) and go and talk to a human resources person about the best way to relate to this person that her e-mails are unsolicited and unwelcome and inappropriate in a business setting anyway. They may choose to handle that portion for you as she is higher up the ladder than you are. Then you are in a position to handle it in a way that no one can find fault with.
2007-01-26 08:31:24 · answer #2 · answered by dakirk123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Confront her again and tell her you do not want her to forward you those emails. Since telling her you're an atheist didn't do the trick, you could tell her that you simply don't have time to go through everything she forwards you and you would prefer to only receive important/work related emails from her. If it doesn't stop, talk to someone above her.
She shouldn't be spending her time forwarding junk to people at work anyway.
2007-01-26 08:29:00 · answer #3 · answered by agendagal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like she is 'higher' than you. (joke)
You could probably just ignore them, and delete them when she sends them. If it becomes too much of a problem, talk to someone who is her superior (or someone in the company with the power to make people listen) and tell them that you are having trouble picking through your e-mail for the important ones because too many people are sending personal e-mails or forwarding stuff.
Me personally, I would set up an e-mail account on yahoo! with a name like 'satan_is_my_pal666' or something. Take her e-mails and respond to them in as offensive a manner as you feel fit.
2007-01-26 08:28:48 · answer #4 · answered by superfunkmasta 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just ask her politely if she could remove you from your forward list. Just say that you are asking everyone to stop forwarding you, not just her, as it is distracting and has gotten a little out of control and you need to focus.
You don't want to get into the whole, i believe what i believe and don't try to convince me otherwise. i don't try to change you don't try to change me.
part of her religion is to spread the gospel to all everyone she can. her beliefs tell her that she needs to speak to you about these things because she may be the only one who ever does. "god may have put her here for you".
It would just get ugly, so keep the religion thing out of it (even though it is the reason for it in the first place).
2007-01-26 08:33:42 · answer #5 · answered by missy_mae6 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was going to say, send her messages to spam forlder, but that means all her messages even work-related will be sent to spam folder. Just keep deleting them. When she brings them up in a conversation - you won't have a clue what she's talking about. Hopefully she'll get the message. Alternatively, ask her to limit the e-mail communications to work-related issues.
2007-01-26 08:29:05 · answer #6 · answered by Snowflake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Begin sending her song lyrics by Cannibal corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Broken Hope; claim them as your own and she may stop. Athiests do not exist. Instead of saying athiest, try agnostic (one who 'refuses to believe' as opposed to one who 'does not believe'). Find some of these lyrics for her and let her know how much you really hate God and anyone that forces Him on you. I was the same as you once about this subject.
2007-01-26 08:37:35 · answer #7 · answered by acesfourpal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, thats harrasment, especially if she is "higher" than you. Ask her again and if not than just skip a step in the chain of command. I am not athiest, I am not a die hard christian either and I get pissed off when I get forwarded that crap, I usually just send them animal porn back, it stops pretty quick but I only do that to family members, not co-workers. Good luck.
2007-01-26 08:27:54 · answer #8 · answered by cam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should just ask her to stop sending you forwards period. This is your work e-mail and she's filling up your box with non-work-related stuff. Just tell her your mailbox is overflowing as it is and it's making it hard to find the e-mails you really need.
Or you could just delete them immediately.
2007-01-26 08:29:35 · answer #9 · answered by CrysV 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask her politely to stop sending the emails via email and in person. If she continues, report her to your manager or Human Resources. If your company is of any size, they'll have a policy about that. You should also be protected from any retaliation. If you keep it professional, she most likely will.
But it might not hurt you to understand her message!
2007-01-26 08:33:09 · answer #10 · answered by brndnsdad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋