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E-mail

I sent an e-mail to one of my close friends here, and I included some fairly nasty comments about some of the people, including our manager. The problem is that I must have hit the wrong button because it went to just about everybody. Obviously a lot of people are very upset with me. What can I do?



Other than update your resume, your best hope is to offer apologies to all of the people that you slammed. Do this individually with each of them, including your manager, and then see what happens.

While the specific comments that you included in the e-mail play a role here, the greater problem is that your credibility, judgment, and loyalty have all fallen into serious doubt. Many employees are going to wonder if they can trust you, and others may distance themselves from you because you insulted them or because you are politically on the outs.

There are times when an employee makes such a major error that he or she cannot continue with the firm. Sometimes this outcome is evident immediately, while in other situations it can take a little while. The fact that you are still at the company indicates that the jury is still out.

During this time, try to put the matter behind you and demonstrate not only your diligence but also the fact that you learned something. The reaction of your manager and fellow employees will let you know if they want to teach you another lesson.




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