Work-related emails are becoming less professional

Dear Annie: I have noticed a shift in common communication skills over the past few years in the workplace that I believe has been caused by texting, and it has quickly become a pet peeve of mine.

I work for a large insurance company on the East Coast. I have noticed that work-related emails are becoming less and less professional, to the point where some are so vague that I wonder whether the sender realizes how the end product looks to the receiver.

I need to point out that I am a 20-something woman, and I do my fair share of texting. However, when I receive an email from someone in a professional context, I expect to see more than “tks” or “u” or “mtg” in the body of the email. When I see those abbreviated words, I give the emails less importance and am often insulted by them.

When did it become accepted practice to slip into what I consider a sloppy style of communication on the job? In my opinion, people are entitled to communicate in any way they please outside the workplace; however, slang-style writing is unacceptable in a professional setting.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest! — No Texting, Please

Dear No Texting: Though our society is as advanced as it has ever been, it often seems like a dark age for manners. Shine a light by your good example. The next time you get a lax email from a co-worker, respond extra professionally — with a formal salutation, a well-formed paragraph and a proper closing. Often this is enough to shift the tone of the whole correspondence.

It seems that today a lot of people — too many — have trouble differentiating between what’s appropriate at home and what’s appropriate

at work. I, too, believe that in professional emails (or even text messages, if you find yourself texting a boss), it’s important to maintain a degree of formality. No one ever lost a job for erring on the side of politeness.

Dear Annie: It’s no secret that there is a stigma when it comes to mental health in today’s society. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for several years now, and I’m fortunate to have it “under control,” so to speak, thanks to therapy and medication. I like to think that I am in charge of my illness rather than the other way around, and I don’t want to be shy about it, because it is part of who I am. However, I’m now not sure when it’s appropriate to share this information with someone.

I am in a happy, healthy new relationship, and I care about my boyfriend very much. I feel that this is something he needs to know about me, but I’m scared to bring it up, because I don’t want to scare him off. I’m sure that he will be very understanding once he knows, and I really do want him to know, but I don’t know how realistic it is for me to wait for this subject to come up naturally.

It is a hard thing to say out loud. The thought of telling

him overwhelms me, but I am even more overwhelmed knowing that he doesn’t know this huge thing about me.

Should I just go ahead and bring it up to him out of the blue and get it over with, or should I wait? — Smitten and Scared

Dear Smitten and Scared: There is no set timeline for divulging mental health issues to a new partner. The right time is whenever it feels right for you. That means when you trust him, when you’re sure the relationship is serious and when the fact that you haven’t told him is really bugging you. If you’re at that point, then you’re ready to have the conversation.

Decide ahead of time just how much you want to divulge. A short, simple explanation like the one you gave me would be perfectly acceptable, and you can reveal more as your relationship progresses.

He will not break up with you over this, and if he does, you’re better off without him.

Dear Annie: I enjoy your take on advice, for the most part, as well as your concise answers to writers’ issues.

Could you, however, consider dropping the term

“caretaker” in favor of “caregiver”? Many of us older folks think of cemeteries when we hear “caretaker”! The latter is so much warmer. — Russ

Dear Russ: Goodness me. You’ve got a point. I’ll go with “caregiver” in the future (unless, of course, I’m responding to a letter about cemetery maintenance).