My manager (who also owns this small company) at work is sending emails with my name to clients. I have let her know I am not happy about this, however she continues to do it. I never am even cc'ed into the emails or know exactly what is written. I find out usually by finding the emails in my sent box, or when clients call and I have no idea about what they are talking about! It is getting worse and yesterday she sent an email (she read it out to me before sending this time as she knows I am not happy with her doing it) even after I told her the contents were a lie and also made me look bad. She agreed and said she decided to send the email anyway..... I am in a difficult situation as I need the job, it is a rare position in a local area to where I live. I am thinking of formally requesting that she no longer do this, however I really do risk losing my job. I am employed casually. I am wondering is this actually legal to do?
4 Replies
What she is doing is not legal. Can you change the password to your email address so that she cannot access it. Seems like the simplest idea really. Do not give her your password and make sure she doesn't send anymore under your name. I would start looking for another job and when you find one leave the job you're at. Sounds like she is trying to cover up what she's doing by putting your name on the emails and that is not on.
I'd create a paper trail too, so make sure you send her an email stating you dont want her doing it!
If it's the boss and the owner of the company, then I really don't think you have any recourse other than to leave. You are her employee/representative of her company and she obviously has her reasons as to why she does this, I am sure it is not illegal. If you worked at the ANZ bank and she was sending emails on your behalf, to bosses and clients, totally different story, but if it is her company and I think she can manage it how she likes. At my work, it is a small company and I often send emails from my bosses (owner) account for different reasons. You need to tell her though that you will look very unprofessional if she doesn't cc you in and clients ring up about the email. The clients will certainly pick up on the fact that you didn't send it and that defeats the purpose of whatever reason she did it in the first place.
I'm having the same issue! Haven't been in the company long, and the owner's partner (who happens to have the same first name as me) also sends emails out of the inbox I work out of which gets confusing for everyone. I've mentioned to her that it causes a lot of confusion and suggested that she change the surname in the outgoing mail signature when she is sending something, but to no avail. I sympathise with the OP, although in my case she isn't emailing anything detrimental that can be attributed to me. All I can do is mention it to people who call up regarding something 'I' emailed them and make light of it. Perhaps change the outgoing email signature to something more generic so that each person has to manually sign off their name before sending?