We have a manager in another department who uses bcc frequently.

15 Comments

1. Becca A.April 6,2023 at 4:45PM UTC

   To get s better understanding of the relationship what is your relation to the manager? Are you a liaison? Work under her?

   If I was experiencing this, I would think that depending on my title and responsibilities of my assigned role this habit would be alright. As, in general, people use bcc to include people who should be in the know but not necessarily need to be an active participant of the conversation being held via email. At least in healthy work environments.

   You didn't share what type of emails are being sent that they are performing this habit with so I cant say more. But I will say that when it comes to emails I am always in the mindset of, " if I'm replying in a recorded space or simply at work I need to communicate in a way that I would not feel embarrassed, shy away from, or feel uncomfortable being confronted on what I shared. It's in a recorded place so as such I need to present my best self. Just think about all those scandals with CEOs that have been caught saying salacious stuff in emails that were silently exposed to the public. Anything that can be traced is never private. Especially when it comes to work.

2. Nibor EroomJune 16,2023 at 2:52PM UTC

   I am a very transparent person with my work. It’s not that I am saying anything I don’t want them to know, it’s that when I respond to a demand, the bcc people don’t see it, so they are left with the impression I made an error or am not meeting expectations. Recently, after posting this here, one of the higher up supervisors came and asked me about the issue. I forwarded him the rest of the replies/conversation and he admitted that not seeing my responses colored how he viewed me and my work.

3. Becca A.June 17,2023 at 5:53PM UTC

   Appreciate you shedding more light on this as the context truly DOES help paint a fuller picture.

   The recipient was surely being petty and underhanded in their usage of the bcc and if I was in your position and noted that my replies did not receive the same number of included recipeints. then i would have done so on their behalf by putting back every bcc recipeint so that they could see my replies as well. This would also send an indirect message to the person performing this behavior that the behavior performed wont be able to succeed easily. People mess with those that they feel will simply accept their poor behavior. Im glad your supervisor went to you directly to ask for your side.

   However, now that you know your supervisor assumed what you feared think about those who DIDNT come to you that are on that bcc line that still believe it and act accordingly.

   Hoping this issue is resolved quickly so you can have less stress on your plate!

4. AnonymousApril 6,2023 at 7:49PM UTC

   In an organization emails and communication even though sent to each other one to one, you should always assume that they can be published anytime. You have to use the language, tone and content in such a way that it does not cause a problem when its disclosed .

   Why she bcc's other employees is not in your control or should be a concern, she could have done a forward as FYI as well, . I am not sure if that's a wrong choice for the manager or the person who thought its good to respond on Bcc'd email breaking overall trust factor.

5. Me!April 8,2023 at 4:02PM UTC

   This is very helpful to me. It provides a new perspective on how to think about BCC. Thank you!

6. Nibor EroomApril 13,2023 at 2:47AM UTC

   The ones who respond have no idea what a bcc means, her employees. It is usually used when I can tell they are documenting communications to someone in another department. I was unable to finish work that needed to go to her department because of two employees out sick. I explained it in the answer, but then received a curt reply from one of her reports (who would have received the work), when she answered the bcc original email. It’s just shady and unprofessional. Be transparent. I would be just fine with her report included on the cc line if the original email. It was a demand for the work(original email). This department knows way too much about everything and feels they are the ‘top’ where the buck stops, when that is the Board. Thank you all for the great feedback.

7. AnonymousApril 7,2023 at 11:13AM UTC

   First, shame on that co-worker. IMO Being professional is the miss here. Absolutely emails at the workplace can be considered confidential and private, its use can be for transparency actually. Can be. Think about it that way. Accountability. Any email in an organization can be recovered and published as needed. If you have nothing to worry about with your emails and they use bcc, then it's a non-issue, and you can look at them through a different lens. When on a team meeting or better yet 1 on 1 meeting, ask. Communication is going to benefit your concern. You got this!

8. Gretchen SkalkaApril 7,2023 at 1:00PM UTC

   Well, first things first - if you're email is sent from and housed on an internal server, nothing is private and there should be zero expectation that it is.

   Your employer owns it and there's likely a policy somewhere stating such.

   That said - BCC is usually a punk move by someone who's modus operandi is CYA which is both rude and wholly unprofessional.

   I would respectfully address the concern with her directly in an absolutely nonconfrontational and nonjudgmental way.

   'Hey there, you know, I've been meaning to ask you why you BCC every email.'

   Legit - just ask. There is no confrontation, assumption or judgment in the question and since it's a consistent pattern, curiosity is normal for something unusual (like habitually using BCC).

   Good luck - I hope you let us know how it goes. :)

9. AnonymousApril 7,2023 at 2:09PM UTC

   Bcc is not a fav. I do use on one instance when I need to separate responses but it's not confidential info that I'm sharing.

   It is too easy for people to get confused or not even notice the bcc.

   But, I feel the manager you mention does not have good intentions. Good luck!

10. AnonymousApril 7,2023 at 4:18PM UTC

    I try to not use bcc.

11. AnonymousApril 7,2023 at 4:22PM UTC

    Unfortunately, it looks like the manager may be trying to "cover" themselves in what's today considered to be an unprofessional and, frankly, shady way. The only way to really deal with this is to report it to her supervisor and, until addressed, avoid any personal details when replying.

12. Nibor EroomJune 16,2023 at 2:47PM UTC

    She has no supervisor. Voted into office….

13. AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 6:50PM UTC

    The main issue with a bcc is that those copied don’t see any response from the recipient. So for instance, if someone bcc’s others on an email stating that something is past due or wasn’t received, those copied wouldn’t see a response that said, “Actually I sent that to you last Tuesday.” Its use can be easily manipulated for this reason.

    Bcc has a legitimate purpose, which is when an email needs to go to a lot of people who don’t necessarily want their emails revealed to the whole group. And it prevents people from replying all to a message. Plenty of instances where that could be appropriate. What is presumed to be 1:1 correspondence isn’t one of them.

    I was always taught, even in school, that using bcc to hide that others are included in a conversation, is unprofessional. At best, it raises suspicions as to motive, as the OP has experienced.

    I personally would ask this coworker about it, saying that others who were blind copied have referenced the emails, and is there any particular reason she prefers to use bcc rather than cc?

14. AnonymousApril 11,2023 at 9:16PM UTC

    I agree that it may not be a nefarious reason why she is BCC'g people. It could be as a method of FYI so that she doesn't have to forward post sending the email. The polite thing she should do is to say by way of BCC I'm keeping the following informed or something to that nature. I also use BCC when people over copy everyone and their dog on emails. If I reply all and people are copied that do not need to be on the back and forth, I'll move them to the BCC line, and then state, "removing person 1,2,&3 by way of BCC from the back and forth." The people removed then know they don't need to follow up and they don't get a bunch of "reply all" email. There can be legit reasons to use it. I can't tell from your comment if that is possible here or not. I'd let it go most likely unless she is sending something to "email yell" at you for something and then you know the people do not get the benefit of your reply and you think they should....then you may want to address and just say, I'd be happy to reply to all if you want to move them to the CC line or something to that effect. Good luck!

15. Nibor EroomJune 16,2023 at 2:45PM UTC

    That’s the issue, she is sharing info between the two of us with others for ‘backup’. They are not savvy enough to realize they shouldn’t reply but they do, so the game is up. She is not transparent, but is in a position she should be and doesn’t realize it. Routinely, she bcc’s all of her staff without the knowledge of the person she is having a discussion with over email. I stopped emailing her and only have verbal discussions unless I feel my point needs ti be documented. It’s not the best environment.