Help please. Is this a breach in staff confidentiality?

wannaberich41

So ok, there is a new woman in the office who likes to know everything about everyone first so she can then tell other colleagues that come in the office first. To be honest I’m not keen on the woman . So my work colleagues new I was going into hospital for a operation on Monday and new where it was for (inside ear) Come Tuesday I phone into my boss director of the company to tell her I’ve been signed off work for 1 week and that the operation wasn’t a success. Queue 2 hours later my work best friend text me to say the new woman has informed her my operation wasn’t successful. She said she told her as soon as she walked through the door.
My question is obviously my boss has told the new woman but surely that’s a breach in my confidentiality? What can I do?

TELLIT01

It would seem a clear case of breach of confidentiality as your boss has no right to discuss your health with anybody without your agreement. The exceptions to that would be informing HR and advising others who will be directly affected by your absence that you won't be in. She certainly shouldn't be discussing the detail with staff in general.
Depending on the structure of the company, the leak to motor mouth may not have come directly from your manager, so be careful about making direct accusations about anybody. I would certainly raise it when you go back to work.

wannaberich41

Thank you for your reply. This woman will say to me as soon as I walk in. “Oh it wasn’t a success then” as she’s that sort of person. I think I’ll ask her outright who told her and put her on the spot. I’ve not told anyone not even my in laws.

ohreally

wannaberich41 wrote: »

I think I’ll ask her outright who told her and put her on the spot.

It's your boss who needs to be challenged. The situation may present a case to prosecute a grievance against both individuals but you may need to live with the consequences of this.

gettingtheresometime

I'm going to be charitable here.


Could it be that your boss made a throwaway comment along the lines of 'wannabe has phoned in and won't be in for a week and it's a pity that the operation wasn't a success' ?


Does the boss know this woman has a reputation for gossiping?


Sounds like the woman is getting away with it simply because nobody has challenged her. I wouldn't be rude to her but I would make it clear that I didn't appreciate being the subject of gossip.

Jami74

wannaberich41 wrote: »

2 hours later my work best friend text me to say the new woman has informed her my operation wasn’t successful. She said she told her as soon as she walked through the door.

That is terrible!
Do new staff have any training on things like information governance and confidentiality? In other words, should everyone know that it's not okay to openly discuss colleagues personal business?

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Could it be that your boss made a throwaway comment along the lines of 'wannabe has phoned in and won't be in for a week and it's a pity that the operation wasn't a success' ?

Still wrong. I guess if the op was common knowledge then the reason for an extra week off sick seems obvious. But openly discussing it is still not right.

sammyjammy

It is definitely the boss that needs to be challenged on the breach of confidentiality, I can appreciate that this woman sounds like a pain but I'm sure she is harmless and a quiet word will resolve all, maybe she is trying to fit in or just likes to chat/gossip.

Not really liking her is no reason to have a go at her and demand to know who told her about your OP.

prowla

I worked in an office where the HR manager and another worker openly discussed confidential information on the pod next to mine; very unprofessional!

TELLIT01

Some years ago I was stood on a Tube platform when my Finance Director appears, heading for the same mainline station, and home. First thing he said to me "I've just been told that Mr X has leukaemia, but he doesn't want anybody to know"! Mr X was a director in another division of the company, but somebody I had regular contact with. Even at the highest levels of business there are plenty who can't keep their mouth shut when they have 'juicy' information.
In the above example I was at least the second person who had been given information Mr X wanted kept private, as my FD had been told by a 3rd party.

wannaberich41

Thank you all. I didn’t have a go at the new lady as that’s not in my nature. My Work colleagues new I was having a operation but I didn’t know how long I would be signed off for. Found out it was my boss who told her and she went into all the detail I had previously told her. Who then the gossip made sure that everyone who walked through the office door new about it.
I did say to her that the boss should not have spoken about the after effects of my operation as it was confidential. Lesson learnt don’t tell the boss the detail.

Marvel1

Definately wrong, in my workplace when I'm typing up notes for someone who is off long term sick and the person does not want people to know why. I go into a small meeting room, where they have a computer and type the notes there to ensure no-one unexpectedly appears behind me and sees the screen.