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Woman’s Boss Doesn’t Think Her “Quirky” OOO Emails Are Appropriate, People Tend To Agree
A catering operations manager sparked a viral debate after sharing on TikTok that her creative out-of-office (OOO) emails, featuring stories or wellness tips, were deemed “unprofessional” by her boss. Taking to her TikTok page on November 22, Theo Moise explained in a viral video that she used artificial intelligence (AI) to craft engaging auto-replies.
Highlights
- Theo's creative OOO emails, featuring stories or wellness tips, were called unprofessional by her boss.
- She used AI to generate her quirky OOO emails and felt stifled by corporate culture.
- Theo's viral TikTok, explaining the situation, amassed nearly 2 million views.
In the video, which has since amassed nearly 2 million views, Theo started: “So I keep getting the same talking to from my boss about the exact same situation that I just apparently am not learning from.
“So I wanted to bring it to you because you let me know if I’m like, overreacting, if I’m bugging, or I’m just like a crash out because I don’t really understand.”
Theo went on to share her frustration over repeated conversations with her boss about her OOO emails, which ranged from quirky stories about adventures with squirrels and sharks to historical facts and wellness tips.
RELATED:
A catering operations manager sparked a viral debate
Image credits: UK Black Tech/Unsplash (Not the actual photo)
Despite revising her approach multiple times to align with professionalism standards, her boss continued to find the emails unsuitable.
The TikToker expressed disappointment, as she exclaimed: “Tell me why I had another conversation with this man today about how unprofessional that is?”
She added: “How is an out-of-office email unprofessional? Like, I’m out of office, and it’s literally just a fun, little quirky story, and you’re saying that it’s unprofessional?
Image credits: chefmoisehere
“Like, how is it unprofessional? And I just feel like my personality is being smothered by corporate America right now, so I’m just, like, crashing out.
“But giving you 10 ways you can, you know, be a little healthier at your desk is unprofessional?”
A slew of people seemingly disagreed with Theo as a TikTok user commented: “‘How is an ooo email unprofessional?’ Here are 3 examples lol.”
She shared on TikTok that her creative out-of-office (OOO) emails, featuring stories or wellness tips, were deemed “unprofessional” by her boss
Image credits: chefmoisehere
A person wrote: “He gave you three warnings. Just leave it as a simple OOO email before you’re OOO permanently.”
Someone else penned: “This is not the job market to be playing around in sis.”
“I don’t understand what you don’t understand,” a netizen added.
Image credits: chefmoisehere
An observer noted: “He wants you to stop altogether. Hope this helps!”
A commentator stated: “Is this worth losing your job? You’re clinging to an entrepreneur’s creative freedom mindset, but in a 9-5 corporate setting, that won’t work.”
“How often are you OOO to be crafting so many stories,” a cybernaut shared.
Taking to her TikTok page on November 22, Theo Moise explained in a viral video that she used artificial intelligence (AI) to craft engaging auto-replies
Image credits: chefmoisehere
An additional viewer remarked: “This isn’t the hill to die on lol.”
“Imagine you sent an urgent email to someone and their automated response was a story instead of letting you know who to contact while they’re out,” a person countered.
A separate individual chimed in: “Maybe start a newsletter or blog friend.”
Theo is a catering operations manager at a science museum. She admitted she never meant to be disrespectful or unprofessional.
Image credits: chefmoisehere
The TikToker told People on Wednesday (November 27): “I sincerely thought it was a missed opportunity to showcase personality.
“I just wanted to be creative and create a spark of joy in people’s mundane 9 to 5. And when a few people gave me positive feedback about it, I thought my intentions worked, now I am not sure if they were being sarcastic about it.”
She reportedly explained that she also wasn’t crafting her funny email stories on the clock, but instead using AI to generate them.
Her video has since amassed nearly 2 million views
@chefmoisehere Like who wants to write some boring ah email #chefmoise #corporatelife #oooemail ♬ original sound – Theo🇭🇹🏳️🌈
Theo said: “I didn’t take company time to write a fable, I just put in a prompt into AI and 15 seconds later, a whole email.
“It’s very simple and, nowadays, accessible to be unique. I do not fear being different, I fear being forgettable.”
Theo expressed feeling stifled by corporate culture, lamenting that her personality is being “smothered by corporate America.”
@chefmoisehere #chefmoise #oooemail ♬ original sound – Theo🇭🇹🏳️🌈
While some online suggested she tone down her creative out-of-office emails, she also revealed facing harsh criticism, including accusations of being a “personality hire” or a diversity, equity, and inclusion hire.
She told People: “I am uniquely qualified, self-accomplished, very educated, and experienced.
“I am doing so well for my age … I am valuable. It highlights what people truly think about me and people like me in the corporate space.”
On Tuesday (November 26), Theo shared a humorous update on TikTok, admitting: “All jokes aside, I understand why I shouldn’t do this anymore.”
Theo’s video continued to ignite different reactions
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What do you think ?
Ace 2 weeks ago
Did anyone see any examples of these OOO messages? I wouldn't have thought it worth posting this non-story without actually showing what sort of thing was being generated. Anyway, yes, stupid, you need to say "I'll be OOO until x date, please contact yyy for anything urgent", nothing more, nothing less.
Bec 2 weeks ago
Your co-workers need a quick concise email to direct them about what to do when you are out of office. Similarly, if I came to your office and we were both in person, I would not appreciate an unrelated story if I needed help. You do have to sublimate your quirkiness at work, especially when you are new, but hopefully you can find small appropriate ways to share it once you have established that you are a trusted worker - if not, do a cost benefit analysis, is the $ they pay worth it
sturmwesen 2 weeks ago
I want her problem ...if a boring OOO is worth 3 talks with your boss you are either bad at chosing battles or don't have any....
Wendy Hamilton 2 weeks ago
I think she is so impressed with herself. I like to laugh and have fun but would not be interested in her stories. I would hate working with her. She sounds so annoying.
John Harrison 2 weeks ago
The annoying thing is that she's positioning her material in a place where others HAVE to see it. She's shoving it in their faces.
Kat 2 weeks ago
When I went on vacation last summer, mine was something like 'i'm trying to find a camping spot without WiFi, so untill xxx I can't be reached The only logistics I will be managing are croissant, tent pegs and wine If your question or issue can't wait untill I'm back , contact .... ' Short enough not to bother people, 'quirky' enough to be actually read and noticed
General Anaesthesia 2 weeks ago
Generally, people aren't allowed to block accounts in office settings. Her colleagues can't block her so all her mails, especially automatic out-of-office email replies, should be professional (there's that word again) and to the point.
Dre Mosley 2 weeks ago
Just tell them that you're out of the office, when you'll be back, and who to contact while you're out. That's it. Straight to the point. Stop trying to be cute.
aubergine10003 2 weeks ago
wow, people out here doing anything - literally anything - to get attention
Lynchamigsakta 2 weeks ago
Also, it's people that constantly desperately needs to showcase their "personality" in any kind of situation that really doesn't require it or is suitable that absolutely lack any kind of genuine personality. If you have an actual personality you don't have to show it constantly to everyone. Also using AI to do it absolutely proves that I'm right at least about her, she has no personality or creativity of her own
tori Ohno 2 weeks ago
What an idiot! You do what your boss tells you. Period. If you don't like it, find a new job before you get fired. Nobody is holding you back or stifling you except yourself. If you can't follow their rules, get a new job, or open your own company! There's too many clueless, and selfish people out there that don't understand that the real world doesn't let you run wild the way your mommy and daddy did. There's rules to follow, and a price to paynif you don't follow them.
Steve Sharpe 2 weeks ago
You can be quirky and creative in your own time, you can post funny squirrel stories on your socials. If your boss tells you to stop doing something you stop doing it, not laugh in their face and carry on doing it anyway because "ooh, look at me, I'm an individual! everything works differently for me and I can do as I please!". If being gainfully employed and enjoying the privileges of working for the mean and nasty Corporations® isn't to your liking, go and sell AI generated weight loss tips and use that income to pay your mortgage, pension, finance, insurance, utilities etc. If the evils of Capitalism™ aren't working out for you, hop on a plane to any of the countries that have names like "Democratic People's Socialist Republic of..." or similar. Try out this "I come to work to do as I please, not what I'm told" routine there, be sure to let us know how it works out.
Fiery Llama 2 weeks ago
I mean you're right but why did you need to bring up her weight
Load More Replies...
Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
If you've been warned, stop it or take the consequences. I did once put some jokes on an OOO - it was at the end of a list, so people could stop reading after the important stuff, eg For project X, contact John; for project Y, contact Laura; for Better Eyesight, contact Lens, for Instant Glue, contact Adhesive etc. No-one complained but, had they done so, I wouldn't have done it again. I did get complaints about things that I thought were stupid, but they're in charge, so you suck it up and walk away resentful. To bosses, though - there's a lot to be said for a bit of humour around the place. Not everyone is 110% focused on your business objectives, happy staff are usually better staff.
Chicken Mitten 2 weeks ago
Did anyone see the scratchy paper towel she was cleaning her glasses with? This woman is a psychopath!!
Ace 2 weeks ago
Did anyone see any examples of these OOO messages? I wouldn't have thought it worth posting this non-story without actually showing what sort of thing was being generated. Anyway, yes, stupid, you need to say "I'll be OOO until x date, please contact yyy for anything urgent", nothing more, nothing less.
Bec 2 weeks ago
Your co-workers need a quick concise email to direct them about what to do when you are out of office. Similarly, if I came to your office and we were both in person, I would not appreciate an unrelated story if I needed help. You do have to sublimate your quirkiness at work, especially when you are new, but hopefully you can find small appropriate ways to share it once you have established that you are a trusted worker - if not, do a cost benefit analysis, is the $ they pay worth it
sturmwesen 2 weeks ago
I want her problem ...if a boring OOO is worth 3 talks with your boss you are either bad at chosing battles or don't have any....
Wendy Hamilton 2 weeks ago
I think she is so impressed with herself. I like to laugh and have fun but would not be interested in her stories. I would hate working with her. She sounds so annoying.
John Harrison 2 weeks ago
The annoying thing is that she's positioning her material in a place where others HAVE to see it. She's shoving it in their faces.
Kat 2 weeks ago
When I went on vacation last summer, mine was something like 'i'm trying to find a camping spot without WiFi, so untill xxx I can't be reached The only logistics I will be managing are croissant, tent pegs and wine If your question or issue can't wait untill I'm back , contact .... ' Short enough not to bother people, 'quirky' enough to be actually read and noticed
General Anaesthesia 2 weeks ago
Generally, people aren't allowed to block accounts in office settings. Her colleagues can't block her so all her mails, especially automatic out-of-office email replies, should be professional (there's that word again) and to the point.
Dre Mosley 2 weeks ago
Just tell them that you're out of the office, when you'll be back, and who to contact while you're out. That's it. Straight to the point. Stop trying to be cute.
aubergine10003 2 weeks ago
wow, people out here doing anything - literally anything - to get attention
Lynchamigsakta 2 weeks ago
Also, it's people that constantly desperately needs to showcase their "personality" in any kind of situation that really doesn't require it or is suitable that absolutely lack any kind of genuine personality. If you have an actual personality you don't have to show it constantly to everyone. Also using AI to do it absolutely proves that I'm right at least about her, she has no personality or creativity of her own
tori Ohno 2 weeks ago
What an idiot! You do what your boss tells you. Period. If you don't like it, find a new job before you get fired. Nobody is holding you back or stifling you except yourself. If you can't follow their rules, get a new job, or open your own company! There's too many clueless, and selfish people out there that don't understand that the real world doesn't let you run wild the way your mommy and daddy did. There's rules to follow, and a price to paynif you don't follow them.
Steve Sharpe 2 weeks ago
You can be quirky and creative in your own time, you can post funny squirrel stories on your socials. If your boss tells you to stop doing something you stop doing it, not laugh in their face and carry on doing it anyway because "ooh, look at me, I'm an individual! everything works differently for me and I can do as I please!". If being gainfully employed and enjoying the privileges of working for the mean and nasty Corporations® isn't to your liking, go and sell AI generated weight loss tips and use that income to pay your mortgage, pension, finance, insurance, utilities etc. If the evils of Capitalism™ aren't working out for you, hop on a plane to any of the countries that have names like "Democratic People's Socialist Republic of..." or similar. Try out this "I come to work to do as I please, not what I'm told" routine there, be sure to let us know how it works out.
Fiery Llama 2 weeks ago
I mean you're right but why did you need to bring up her weight
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
If you've been warned, stop it or take the consequences. I did once put some jokes on an OOO - it was at the end of a list, so people could stop reading after the important stuff, eg For project X, contact John; for project Y, contact Laura; for Better Eyesight, contact Lens, for Instant Glue, contact Adhesive etc. No-one complained but, had they done so, I wouldn't have done it again. I did get complaints about things that I thought were stupid, but they're in charge, so you suck it up and walk away resentful. To bosses, though - there's a lot to be said for a bit of humour around the place. Not everyone is 110% focused on your business objectives, happy staff are usually better staff.
Chicken Mitten 2 weeks ago
Did anyone see the scratchy paper towel she was cleaning her glasses with? This woman is a psychopath!!
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