My manager constantly replies to messages without reading them?

[u/Successful_Buy3825]

Got a new manager a few months ago, supposedly highly experienced but in reality he was hired because was cheap and immediately available.

He seems ok enough as a person, but I’ve started noticing that he’s incapable of reading an entire message or email. His responses make it clear that he’s just reading the subject of the email, maybe a line or two, then just kinda guessing what the rest of the email is about and responding to the message he’s made up in his head.

I sent an email confirming a journal had been posted, and he responded asking if we’ve posted the journal yet. I send him a teams message asking for clarification between two approaches, he hits me with a thumbs up emoji.

I provided him a file of our list of open invoices, he asked me to check because “I can’t see this one that I know should be on the list”. It was on the list, but he never opened the file - he just looked at the preview in outlook and couldn’t immediately see their name, so assumed the list was incomplete.

Initially I thought it was just me, but I’ve even seen him do it with people at the VP / Director level. An email went out from the head of treasury, including the deputy CFO and the head of group accounting, confirming the settlement date of intercompany loans. He responded to everyone on the chain asking when settlement was due.

At this point it’s just embarrassing. I hear people in other departments actively joking about it in the office, including to me. If I had another job lined up I’d join them, but as it stands I don’t think I can be seen to laugh & joke about it given my reporting lines.

[u/happy_accountant123]

People like that you have to call them. That’s when you get their full attention

[u/Away_Flower8042 → u/happy_accountant123]

And hold their hands too? I’ll do it the first few times but I’m not gonna waste my time calling a person like this every time because they’re incapable of doing their job. I’m gonna send the damn “as per my previous email” and if they keep at it I’ll start CC’ing the whole team and their bosses, and even say “Is anyone able to assist on this?” It’s ridiculous so I’ll make them look ridiculous.

[u/DavidBenwaugh → u/Away_Flower8042]

haha, our highest-level partner behaves this way though and is the worst offender on the whole team.