# OK, so my boss is reading my coworker's email . . .
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 13, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605 "2003-06-13T16:16:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/61 "2003-06-16T16:14:20Z")
I was about to say the same thing DeVena.
But Auntie, maybe she hasn’t called becasue it’s taking her a long while to come up with a new set of lies, and shes doing research at a library in Navada while moonlighting at the bunnyranch. BUt in reality she’s a spy for the CIA.
A bit far fetched? Maybe, but it could _happen_.
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/62 "2003-06-16T16:15:57Z")
Cross your fingers that she reappears tomorrow or Wednesday – I’m just thinking “Hmmm… when I fly someplace nice it’s usually a weekly charter deal…”)
Hopefully she’ll show up with a tan and claim it’s due to radiation exposure from the UFO that abducted her.
_fingers crossed_
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/63 "2003-06-16T16:20:19Z")
Related note: A (former) co-worker did the same type of thing. Didn’t return from a vacation as scheduled. She missed the Thrusday, Friday and following Monday. Tuesday morning that bubble-head called in and left a voice-mail message on the receptionist’s line that said “Oh, hi! Tell Supervisor I’m extending my holiday for a week. Hope that’s okay. Bye!”
You may still get that far-fetched excuse.
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/64 "2003-06-16T16:22:54Z")
**auntie em** , just out of curiosity, assuming she doesn’t have a really good reason for pulling a Houdini, does she still have a job?
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/65 "2003-06-16T16:26:23Z")
That’s the thing, **Maureen**. She’s one of those people who is very secretive, _but wants you to know that she has secrets to conceal_, so she does that annoying thing where she’ll tell you a little tidbit of something, but then when you act interested and ask a question (even if it’s only to say, “WHAT???”), she’ll refuse to talk about it.
I HATE it when people do that, so I’ve adopted the habit of pretty much ignoring her when it’s obvious she’s trying to reel me in.
So on Friday, my boss and I were exchanging the “tidbits” of info we’d each gotten from her, in hopes of putting together half a clue, and it turns out that _he’d_ had no idea that she sometimes goes by her middle name, whereas _I’d_ had no clue that a few weeks ago she’d been talking about moving in with some guy.
My boss mentioned then the number of creepy guys that tend to enter her life (usually ones she’s met on the internet), and I’d never heard anything about _any_ guys since the trucker that she dated two years ago.
So in answer to your question, MAYBE there’s a man in her life, but if there is, nobody knows anything about him!
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### Author:  [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/66 "2003-06-16T16:29:37Z")
auntie em – how about involving the local media? I think you are in the KC metro area as I am, and you know they run stuff like this fairly often. It’s worth a shot, eh?
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/67 "2003-06-16T16:33:58Z")
**Zev** , my assumption is YES, since my boss is SUCH a wimp. To be fair, he never wanted or intended to be a manager (this agency started out as a one-man operation–just him–and has now expanded to four people, with him in charge), and pretty much sucks an anything that requires him to do so. I’ve seen her get away with so much around here that I can’t imagine what it takes to get fired. I would say you’d have to murder my boss’s mother or something, but I honestly think it would depend on the state of his mother-son relationship at the time. If he were slightly pissed off at Mama, who knows but what you might get away with it . . . ?
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/68 "2003-06-16T16:34:13Z")
WHA-AT?? She has a history of hooking up with creepy guys she meets over the internet?.. And then she disappears without telling a soul where she’s going and no one even knows the name of the Mystery Man she’s claims she’s going to move in with? :eek:
No wonder your boss is in a tizzy!
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/69 "2003-06-16T16:58:57Z")
If she does turn up, is your boss going to fire her?
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### Author:  [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/70 "2003-06-16T17:00:13Z")
This is so creepy, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what’s happened to her.
It does amaze me that she’s done similar stuff before and still has a job–then again, I work for non-profits, too and have seen some really funky stuff going on with the staff.
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/71 "2003-06-16T17:42:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lauramarlane \*
> \*\*It does amaze me that she’s done similar stuff before and still has a job–then again, I work for non-profits, too and have seen some really funky stuff going on with the staff. \*\*
\*\*Auntie Em \*\* did ay her boss was a pushover, but _this_ time… If it turns out that she’s playing hooky, he’d be insane not to fire her. If he let’s her turn the entire work environment upside down to this extent and then let her keep her position, he will never _ever_ be able to maintain credibility with his small staff again. He will lose serious respect of his authority and his judgement will forever be questioned – he has to know that. Right **Aunti Em**?.. Right?..
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/72 "2003-06-16T17:50:02Z")
To be fair, **Eats Crayons** , I don’t know anything about the internet guys or exactly why my boss thinks they’re creepy. I think she did meet the Trucker from 2 years ago online, but hell, I met **SKipMagic** right here at the SDMB, so although he, IMO, could hardly be considered creepy (and although my boss and coworkers have actually MET him, unlike my coworker’s internet amours), I’m not one to throw stones. However, as much of my business as I tend to share, at least if I disappeared, they’d have quite a few ideas about where to start looking.
**Contrary** , I’m going to talk to my boss about that right now (well, when I finish posting).
And **ivylass** , honestly, at this point I would say yes. **lauramarlane** is right about funky stuff in the non-profit realm.
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/73 "2003-06-16T17:55:12Z")
A mini-update:
The cop on our Board of Directors has got a detective on the case, who is planning to go back to my coworker’s apartment to see what he can find.
Oh, and my boss thinks that it’s up to the cops to involve the media.
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### Author:  [@wakimika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakimika)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/74 "2003-06-16T18:07:10Z")
Well, her apartment has been checked, email read and police notified.
Might as well check the logs of her chat software to see if she was meeting someone.
When she shows up, make her read this thread.
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### Author:  [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/75 "2003-06-16T18:20:20Z")
This thread has disrupted my whole day! It just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. I hope your coworker is safe **Auntie Em** but I sure hope she gets HELL from you guys when she shows back up!! Its such a weird emotion being pissed and worried at the same time!
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/76 "2003-06-16T18:26:45Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by auntie em \*
> \*\*To be fair, **Eats Crayons** , I don’t know anything about the internet guys or exactly why my boss thinks they’re creepy. I think she did meet the Trucker from 2 years ago online, but hell, I met **SKipMagic** right here at the SDMB, so although he, IMO, could hardly be considered creepy (and although my boss and coworkers have actually MET him, \*\*
Oh. So it may be that your boss has met only _one_ creepy guy, but thinks that all her internet beaux are creepy? That’s a bit of a relief – it sounded as if she had a more concrete track record of meeting creepy dude after creepy dude. The “mystery man” factor probably doesn’t help the whole sense of malaise.
(And **Auntie Em** please don’t go thinking I was being critical meeting people on-line – I think it’s perfectly valid way of meeting people and weeding out the riff-raff – I just thought that your co-worker had an established weirdo-man pattern.)
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/77 "2003-06-16T18:40:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \*
> \*\*\*\*Auntie Em \*\* did ay her boss was a pushover, but _this_ time… If it turns out that she’s playing hooky, he’d be insane not to fire her. If he let’s her turn the entire work environment upside down to this extent and then let her keep her position, he will never _ever_ be able to maintain credibility with his small staff again. He will lose serious respect of his authority and his judgement will forever be questioned – he has to know that. Right **Aunti Em**?.. Right?.. \*\*
I would like to think so, but after some of the stuff I’ve seen I honestly don’t know. A couple of months ago, she said that she was going out of state for two weeks for some medical testing (for a condition which is a mystery to all of us, because all we get are the aforementioned little “tidbits”). It turned out she’d set up an important work-related event for the same time as the medical testing, however, so she re-scheduled the testing to be back at work to cover the event (because we’d already shelled out some $$$ to put it on, so it couldn’t be cancelled).
Can you see where this is going?
We were expecting her back on a Thursday (the work event was on Thursday and Friday), and she didn’t show up until the following Monday. She didn’t call or email or anything, and a couple of other people (one who works here and one volunteer) had to cover for her at the work event, because we had no idea where she was (my boss had no contact info, etc.).
On Monday, needless to say, my boss was pissed, but nothing really happened. She claimed that she hadn’t known it was the policy to check in when you’re on personal leave. And it isn’t, but when my boss pointed out that we’d been expecting her on Thursday and didn’t see her until Monday, then she claimed that she was unable to call because she was in the hospital the whole time, and didn’t have access to a phone. There was some crying (on her part, not my boss’s), and things were uncomfortable around here for a day or so, but that’s really about it.
Later, she blew her cover by telling stories about stuff she’d done and seen in the city to which she travelled for the medical testing (you know, when she was stuck in a hospital with no phone for two solid weeks).
But she still kept her job.
Are you getting the picture, here?
Granted, that time we didn’t get the police involved and/or change the locks, but do you understand why I honestly can’t say with any certainty that she’d be fired if she came breezing in right this minute?
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/78 "2003-06-16T18:49:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \*
> \*\*(And **Auntie Em** please don’t go thinking I was being critical meeting people on-line – I think it’s perfectly valid way of meeting people and weeding out the riff-raff – I just thought that your co-worker had an established weirdo-man pattern.) \*\*
Actually, I didn’t take it like that at all. 🙂 The only point I was making was that since I don’t have enough information about the “creeps” in question, nor do I know _exactly_ what my boss knows about them, I’m not really qualified to speak on that issue . . . and as an added bonus, it would be hypocritical of me to be judgmental about the internet factor, since I met my fiance online.
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### Author:  [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/79 "2003-06-16T18:54:42Z")
I just cannot believe how she is jerking all of you around. And probably enjoying the hell out of it. And having crying/yelling fights with the boss. Yeesh.
(Just keep us updated, 'kay?)
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boss-is-reading-my-coworkers-email/181605/80 "2003-06-16T18:56:43Z")
Anything new?
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