The Worst Work Emails Ever

Marcus Wood's Offensive Email

When Marcus Wood, the boss of a recruitment company in Australia, sent an email to his colleagues, he had no idea it would make headlines around the world. In the email, Wood used offensive language to accuse his employees of not being good enough. He claimed they were playing games instead of working, not wearing the correct attire, and taking too many sick days.

Wood gave his employees an ultimatum: improve your performance in three months, or you're fired. His employees got their revenge by posting the email on Twitter. The tweets were shared globally, and news of the email appeared in newspapers from Australia to the UK. The "worst work email ever," as some called it, had gone viral.

After his email became famous, a repentant Wood apologized, saying, "I am becoming an online sensation for how not to communicate ..."

Richard Phillips' Ketchup Email

But Marcus Wood wasn't the first to send such an email. Since emails became the communication tool of choice in offices worldwide, workers have been sending messages they later wished they hadn't.

Take Richard Phillips, for instance. In an email, the lawyer demanded five euros from his secretary to pay for dry-cleaning after she accidentally spilled ketchup on his suit. Four days later, when he still hadn't received the money, Phillips, who is believed to have earned 200,000 euros a year, sent another email asking for the cash.

But his secretary was out of the office looking after her ill mother. On her return, she couldn't believe what she was reading and forwarded the emails to her colleagues. Embarrassed, Phillips resigned from his position at the London law firm.

How to Avoid Sending a Bad Email

What should furious bosses and angry workers do before they email their colleagues? They should take a deep breath, calm down, and think before they send.

"Write your email a couple of hours before you send it," advises Lily Herman, an expert in email etiquette. She says that this allows you to change your message when you are likely to be less angry. By doing this, you won't put your hard-earned reputation at risk from a not-so-carefully worded email.

• Take a deep breath and calm down before you write an email.
• Write your email a couple of hours before you send it, so you have time to change your message if you need to.
• Be respectful and professional in your tone.
• Avoid using offensive language or making personal attacks.
• Proofread your email carefully before you send it.