Is Anyone Still Using a Blind Carbon Copy (BCC)?
By Kristin Hodgkinson and Wendy R. Weidenbaum
The other day, I was training 15 senior leaders when I asked if we needed to discuss anything keeping them up at night. One of the women raised her hand and asked…what should I do about my colleague who includes our boss in all of our email conversations without me knowing about it? I was speechless. In this age of transparency and candor, why are blind copies still being used and who is using them?
Blind carbon copying, or bcc, allows the sender to conceal the person entered in the bcc field from the other recipients. While benefits of using a blind copy are readily cited, it could leave the “victim” of the blind copy feeling betrayed or take it as a shot at their competence.
Benefits of the BCC
People utilize the bcc field for a variety of reasons, most of them being harmless and even helpful. Bcc is often used to prevent an accidental “Reply All” which was meant only for the originator of the message to the entire recipient list. Judith Kallos, of netmanners.com, states, “Bcc is best used to protect your contacts’ email addresses from being exposed to strangers.” It is her belief that it is best used when emailing strangers. Another benefit is the prevention of the spread of computer viruses, spam and malware, which often are a result of chain mail. At times, you may need to send emails to update your clients on company products and services. To respect client confidentiality with high-profile clients on your email distribution list, using the blind carbon copy feature will hide email addresses from other clients. All of them will receive your message, but none will know to whom else you’ve sent the message.
Lack of Trust
If you find that blind copying is being utilized in your work environment, one where all involved are familiar with each other, this may be a sign of mistrust. The issues behind it could range from a case of “e-tattling” to your boss/colleague having an issue with letting go and trusting associates to get the job done. Regardless of the source of the problem, it may be in your best interest to address it directly and privately, because a work environment that lacks trust and communication can quickly become toxic. Have an open dialogue in a non-accusatory or threatening way and seek to understand why this is happening. Assert your needs and ask that the individual not use the bcc again. This could be your opportunity to get the necessary conversations flowing.