Bsrhrki

I am employed in a consultancy company and I work at the client workplace. Monthly, I have a client employee sign a timesheet to certify the number of hours I have actually worked.

I then scan the timesheet and send it by email to a colleague in another department, I'm not sure if HR, Accountant or something like that.

In the body of the email, I just kinda repeat the content of the object, being sure to write the month and the year to which the timesheet refer and greetings at the start and at the end, but obviously, the email tends to be pretty boring since the real deal is the attached file.

So, I wanted to start adding something unique, like a quote taken from the internet or some kind of random curiosity. I would pay attention to be as neutral as possible to not offend my colleague or the managers I add in CC.

Would you consider such a behaviour a unprofessional? What do you usually write in the body of emails which really have no body?

Just leave the email with the attachment and state

This timesheet refers to X.

Please see attached.

Regards, Bracco

Just leave the quote out of it and keep the email basic. Your emails are for the recipient to do their job. As long as you allow them to do that then don't complicate it or confuse them.

If the e-mail is basically "complete" with subject line and attachment such as your example then I might add "see attached" or something but there's really no point in bulking the e-mail out with "fluff". They want the attachment - they get the attachment and use it. Job done.

Random quotes from the internet will just make you look immature - not that it will be a big deal though since people probably won't read them.

Hi bracco23,

please see my answer in the attachment.

Greetings, Chris

There is no reason to bloat your email with unnecessary text. These
people will handle a huge bunch of those emails, you will disturb their
workflow if you keep adding noise.

Also your boss might not get offended by your random quotes, but he
might get offended because your browsing the internet for useless
stuff.

Keep it short and simple.

Is it professional to write unrelated content in an almost-emtpy email?

No. Why would you confuse the reader by adding something random?

Try to keep it short and simple.

Informality and unrelated content in work messages are not professional. That does not make it unprofessional.

When this is acceptable and when it isn't is very nuanced, and depends on the office culture, the audience, how often you do it, how well it is received, your particular relationship with everyone who will see it, your reputation, your age, etc. Generally, if it in any way impedes business functioning the only professional response is to stop.

People who have these social skills are more popular, more influential, and can see concrete advantages in their careers.

There's no reason or need to "adorn" the email with superfluous text. There's also no reason to write the same thing in the email as is contained in the attached time sheet.

Attached is my time sheet for the period xx/xx/xxxx through
xx/xx/xxxx. Thank you.