I work as an Executive Assistant and as part of my job I have to monitor my boss's emails, read and prioritize everything. Obviously anything that has the word "confidential" on the subject line, I do not read. Today I saw an email sent to him from another boss with my name in the subject line so I opened it. Long story short, it was something you'd never want to read about yourself. He said some horrible things about me and now I'm extremely uncomfortable. Can I bring it up to my boss? Or is this somehow illegal. Please help.

Illegal, no. It may have been poor judgment to open something with your name in the subject.

I don't know what your boss will feel about doing so.

Without knowing the nature of what the other boss said, its hard to advice further.

I will agree, since you are allowed to review his emails, but once you see your name, better judgement would be not to read one that is about you.

It is done, and will be bothering you, I would speak to my boss in private about it.

I see two choices - do nothing and see what happens. Tell your boss you read the email and see what happens.

In the event this is a continuing "conversation" between two people I would NOT open anything containing my name.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bostongirl

I work as an Executive Assistant and as part of my job I have to monitor my boss's emails, read and prioritize everything. Obviously anything that has the word "confidential" on the subject line, I do not read. ...

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If the person who sent the e-mail knew you were the executive assistant to the addressee, he or she should have anticipated you would at least read the header. So it occurs to me that possibly he/she was intentionally baiting you.

Never having had an executive assistant, I don't know what the custom is regarding the reading of mail by EAs. I guess I assumed everyone managed his/her own e-mail. I guess I was wrong. But if I were you I would be sure that you and your boss are in agreement regarding such things as

• reading things marked "confidential"; and
• reading things with your name in the header.