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  1. #1

    Question Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: California

    Hi, I’m new to this forum so let me give a little background information before I ask my question.

    I was involved in a horrific fire accident where I was the only one who came out un-injured where the other 3 were hospitalized for their injuries and one ended up passing away due to her injuries. This happened to be fault of the vehicle, so we have a lawsuit currently going on about that.

    Being part of such a traumatic accident, I took a small leave of abscence to be with everyone in the hospital and to control my emotions as I was a complete wreck. To this day (6 months later) I am living with flashbacks and dealing with the aftermath of the accident on a daily basis.

    I had to meet with a therapist that my lawyer had set up an appointment with, which happened to be during the work week, so I disclosed personal information to my boss regarding my lawsuit so he was aware of my situation. I let him know I haven’t told anyone about it and I don’t feel comfortable with people knowing.

    Ever since that day, I have had multiple people come up to me and ask about my lawsuit. Saying things across the room like “we know you won a lot of money if you stop showing up here!!”, while most are sympathetic to me, the fact everyone knows has really affected me. This was an extremely traumatic event for me and I’m a very private person, so the fact my boss just told everyone has been so emotionally draining that I dread coming to work.

    Is disclosing my personal information to people at my work illegal? I feel like this breaks some sort of personal privacy law or something. This isn’t the first time he disclosed personal information about myself and others, but this is the first time it truly has affected my well-being.

    Please provide any advice.

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Lake Chapala
    Posts
    3,043

    Default Re: Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    Your boss has not broken any laws.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    The way you have described it, no, it was not illegal. It may or may not have been inappropriate but there are very few privacy laws in the workplace and this does not violate what few there are.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Posts
    1,142

    Default Re: Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    A lot of people believe there are lots more rights and protections in the workplace than there really are. In fact, there are very few. Your employer has violated none of them. A polite "Thank you, I don't really want to discuss it" is all you need to answer their comments and queries with. Most people are genuinely trying to be nice and give you support. Just keep your distance, do your work and do not worry about it if possible. You don't know that your boss "just told everyone," there is probably a lot of rumor and gossip going around, as there always is in a workplace. But really the issue will die down as long as you do not make a big deal of it. I have always been amazed at the level of really flat inquiry and crassness that has become acceptable in our society. It's comparable with what the paparazzi puts the celebrities through. There's no law against it, but people are incredibly rude. When I was divorcing, years ago, people would walk right up and say (on the job and off) "I hear you're getting divorced, WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM???" I'd say, 'It was a sexual issue, and I really don't want to discuss it!" That shut them down. Best wishes to you.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    Thank you for your response! My boss is very “buddy-buddy” with the guy who bluntly announced the money thing and he even said my boss relayed my lawsuit to him. It really rubbed me the wrong way because my situation is more than just a lawsuit, it’s about a death of a friend and the emotional impact it left on me as well as the other injured and all their family members. Not many people know of the accident as it was intentionally kept private for legal reasons. We don’t want people getting in the way of our current case. I just thought it was very inappropriate and unprofessional of my boss for gossiping to people about my personal and private situation.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: Manager Sharing Personal Information with Co-Workers

    It may well have been inappropriate and/or unprofessional - no one said otherwise.

    But it was not illegal.

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