I am a specialist partner helping on a deal, and a corporate associate just responded to my email with a sarcastic comment. He has snapped at me over email before out of nowhere. I know him well. A corporate partner was cc’ed both times, which makes it even weirder for me. I am posting this here so I don’t email anything back right now.

Nip that in the butt if you can. It’s rude, unhelpful, disrespectful, and sets a bad tone. Maybe to soften the blow, reach out to him individually (but blind cc the corporate partner if you’re comfortable doing so) and let him know you were taken aback by his snappy remarks and ask if there’s an issue that needs to be addressed (is he having issues outside of work, is he overwhelmed or having issues at work, or is he just a tool?). Hear him out but impress upon him that if he has issues, snapping at you is NOT the appropriate avenue to voice this concerns. (“Look, we all have bad days but it’s important to try to remain professional with colleagues at all times” blah blah blah).

Whatever you do, sorry this happened and I wish younger associates would read the room a bit before lashing out over email.

Pull rank and light his misogynistic ass up. The fact that this is not the first time it’s happened is telling and it should have been addressed immediately. I would imagine that you’re not the only female colleague he speaks to this way.

I would respond in writing, replying all, and calmly address it. Asking questions often helps. So something like, “I don’t know what you’re referring to when you say ___. Could you clarify?”

He knows what he’s doing. He’s not having a bad day. He does this because he thinks he can bully you because you’re a woman. He’s probably insecure.

In the same way he is publicly humiliating you by copying others, you will need to publicly show you are aware of what he’s doing and that he is the problem.

Thanks everyone. I slept on it, and I replied all.

Not saying it didn’t happen - but are you sure it was meant sarcastically? Sometimes I put things through an AI tool called Goblin AI and use the “Judge” feature and include both what I wrote and what they responded to make sure because sometimes I read too far into things. It’ll tell me whether the exchange seems tense, brusque and business like, etc. Emails are tricky mediums. I’ve had people assume I meant things in a negative way via email and hold animosity towards me as a result when I meant them entirely neutrally. If you’re not 100% certain, I recommend trying it and giving them some temporary grace. Again, emails are tricky. We have no clue what he said. If it was in person that would be different.

I would also stop by their office and have a conversation and see if the disrespect continues in person and let them know how the tone of their email was interpreted and how that may put them in a negative light (in an “I’m trying to help you” way). If it continues after he’s been forewarned, please feel free to check it then and there and let his direct supervisor know so it can impact his performance reviews.

Call the corporate partner.