Confidentiality during a suspension from work

momo1979

I have been suspended from work pending an investigation. I have been advised that I am not allowed to contact any of my colleagues regarding the matter.

However, I have reason to believe that my line manager has not kept the matter confidential. I would like to raise this with my employer, but I am not sure how to approach it without causing issues for myself or others.

ktothema

It would depend on the reason you believe they haven't kept it confidential. The most simple reason I can think is that you've had colleagues tell you they'd heard x, y and z.

This happened with me whilst I was off sick once being shifted roles for medical reasons. In that case I contacted the person dealing with it telling them it's all well and good asking me for confidentiality but why isn't this being covered both ways, and why do some of my colleagues have details that could only have come from the office? I pointed out how bad this made me feel, as some of these people were my friends not just colleagues and all I could do was tell them I couldn't speak about it. My soon to be ex boss got her butt hauled over the coals for that one, which made me feel a lot better!

KiKi

How do you know your line manager hasn't kept it confidential? It would infer that you have had contact with someone in order to know this, so this could be rather self-destructive.

If you feel this is the case, I'd raise it at the disciplinary. But you'll have to explain it without saying you've had any contact with anyone...

KiKi

momo1979

I haven't discussed the matter with anyone, as per the terms and. Indigirka of my suspension.

However, my friend called me, asking what was going on and saying that people in the office were discussing the matter.

I advised her I could not discuss it with her but it's totally inappropriate that people are aware of my suspension and the reasons for it.

My letter states it is a disciplinary matter to discuss it. That should work both ways, but I do not want my friend to get in to trouble for notifying me of the situation.

anamenottaken

momo1979 wrote: »

I haven't discussed the matter with anyone, as per the terms and. Indigirka of my suspension.

However, my friend called me, asking what was going on and saying that people in the office were discussing the matter.

I advised her I could not discuss it with her but it's totally inappropriate that people are aware of my suspension and the reasons for it.

My letter states it is a disciplinary matter to discuss it. That should work both ways, but I do not want my friend to get in to trouble for notifying me of the situation.

Indigirka ???? (That's the name of a river isn't it?)

Miss_Havisham

people at work are bound to be speculating about why you are not coming in to work. Various reasons include illness, resignation, un-authorised absence, being fired, or suspension. Did your friend tell you exactly what they were talking about, i.e. what do they actually know ?

KiKi

anamenottaken wrote: »

Indigirka ???? (That's the name of a river isn't it?)

I'd suggest that was a predictive text issue.

momo1979

Sorry it was my phone! It was meant to say conditions.

I am aware that people will speculate, that's natural, but my friend stated that people know the reasons I am suspended. Firstly, they shouldn't know I'm suspended and secondly they most definitely shouldn't know the reasons.

anamenottaken

momo1979 wrote: »

Sorry it was my phone! It was meant to say conditions.

I learn something every day. I wonder how many people want to write Indigirka compared with those who want to write conditions . . .

(sorry, gone off topic)

marybelle01

I am afraid that knowing you are suspended and speculating about why is something that is hard to avoid. If you aren't off sick ("Jane isn't in work this week and no she isn't sick"), or on leave... or there has been no disaster... I'm afraid it takes the average employee of average intelligence about 20 seconds to get to "suspended". It isn't evidence that your manager told anyone. And unless your suspension involves something that utterly nobody else was involved in or could know anything about, then investigations will involve other staff and that will take a further 20 seconds to guess pretty much everything that the office gossip needs to know. It's horrible, but true - the office scuttlebutt can put together a case faster than any investigating officer can. Maybe not entirely accurately, but probably not entirely inaccurately either.

And a word to the wise - be careful of friends at work. Kiki is right that you mustn't speak to her, and saying you have, even without telling her anything, could land both of you in hot water. But also, bear in mind that it may not always be true, but it is more often than not, that "friends" at work are not really friends. She could just as easily be using that friendship to find out what the gossip couldn't. I know that sounds awfully cynical, but if you had seen how many times a "friend" is the one who handed over the Facebook page, or told the manager, or whatever... In this situation, it is best to be very careful of friends...

colino

I can't believe that you havent worked out the mechanism for the gossip. The organisation itself for example should have reminded all potentially involved what the matter was and that they should not speak to you about it. All too easy for bored/nosey staff just to try to dig a bit deeper just to be the first "in the know".
If I were you I'd be focusing more on the suspension itself and reviewing anything you might have said or done to initiate it.