I am not being “sensitive.” My point of asking for people’s opinions on it was because it is generally inappropriate for subordinates to send reprimanding e-mails to their supervisors. I have also said, twice, that I think she was making a joke that, in my opinion, didn’t come across very well. I don’t think she was judging me; however, telling me, her boss, that I am taking too long out of the office - whether it’s a statement of fact or not - is not exactly wise in the business world. But I really think she was making a joke and I have no plans to write up a note for her personnel file.
I have to agree with xixor on this one.
The way I read it, it looks like she sent it to the wrong the person. Also, it looks to me like she was saying that she was hungry and didn’t know for sure when she would be able to eat (true, and not derogatory to anybody) as opposed to saying you are wrong for taking a long lunch.
I don’t see anything bad about it, regardless of who the intended recipient was.
I’m with xizor, Stoidela, obfusciatrist and whoever else that said it’s probably just a misdirected e-mail, not a joke, and not intended to chastise you for taking a long lunch. She’s hungry, that’s all. (How could you even think it was intended as a joke? There’s nothing remotely funny about it.)
Does she have to wait for you to return before she can take her lunch? If so, it would be a nice gesture if you allowed her to go to lunch first.
[Hijack] All this lunch talk just ticks me off. Our manager suggested a couple of years ago that the HR folks stay in the plant during lunch break, because lunchtime is a convenient time for people who need to see us. We could take a later lunch break.
Guess how that worked out? Well, people kept coming to see us after their break was over, so it would be close to 1 p.m. before we could leave. If you go to any of the local cafes at that time, you’re going to wait longer to be seated, and it takes longer to be served, so we wouldn’t get back to work until 2 p.m. or later, and that’s almost time to go home.
So we just don’t go to lunch. Maybe that’s why I’m not more sympathetic, missbunny. [end hijack]
Off the subject, but kinda related. My brother-in-law works for a fairly large company. One woman there had a little crush on another guy who worked there, and finally worked up enough nerve to e-mail him. It said something fairly innocuous, like: “Hi Jack. It’s Jane. I know this may seem presumptuous, but I was wondering if you’d like to go lunch with me today.”
Unfortunately, when she sent it, she clicked the wrong button and knew instantly that instead of sending the e-mail to just him, she had sent it to everyone in the company. Within minutes, Jack was being inundated with phone calls from amused co-workers. And poor Jane was so humiliated that she resigned from the company.