The last job I had in the UK before moving to france was like that. Not general chit-chat, but nobody would say anything work related without backing it up with an e-mail. It started off quite reasonably, in that someone would confirm something verbally to the person sitting opposite, but then the habit developed of confirming it via e-mail, then it became de rigour to confirm almost everything and then they starting taking the mickey. 'Coffee break?' etc e-mails were the norm.
It all stemmed from a lack of trust/co-operation, then throw in a hefty dollop of watching your back at every stage, always trying to cover your backside should someone mess up. Very sad and very inefficient. But very 21st century.
|