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AIBU?

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AIBU to think writing confidential HR notes on a train is inappropriate?

387 replies

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:19

I am on a train in the UK.

Someone on the seat in front of me is writing up meeting notes from work. All clearly visible through the gaps between seats. I am slightly long sighted mind you.

I have seen that:

  • She works in HR for company X
  • The meeting was for an employee named Y (I can see his name and job title), following him raising a grievance about a GDPR breach of his data within work.
  • Subsequent notes of the meeting about this grievance.

She's still typing her notes now.

AIBU for thinking that people should be very mindful of what work they complete in public places? And that this is inappropriate, and if Y found out that these notes were being written in full public view, they would have a further grievance on their hands?

Or am I a nosey parker?

(Or both?)

OP posts:
LoserWinner · 28/05/2026 17:48

A few years ago, when GCSE and A Level exams were marked on paper, two examiners were sacked on the spot then their Principal Examiner spotted them not only marking on a train (public place - forbidden in contract), but discussing the marking (colluding marking - ditto) loudly enough to be overheard several seats away (breach of marking confidentiality - ditto).

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:44

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:43

She knows that people can see! She has someone else sat right next to her! Do I need to tell her to remember to drink plenty of water too since it's hot?

Oh come off it.

Make all the excuses you want but you don't actually care enough to give her the heads up.

Backedoffhackedoff · 28/05/2026 17:44

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:42

Not sure I accept that as good enough, I expect better from people in a professional capacity.

They’re just HR people for a company. Hardly the beacons of society.

frumpydump · 28/05/2026 17:44

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:43

She knows that people can see! She has someone else sat right next to her! Do I need to tell her to remember to drink plenty of water too since it's hot?

Clearly she doesn’t. A quick tap of the shoulder would’ve solved all of this.

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:43

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:41

But you care so much that you've taken to a parenting forum to discuss it, rather than say "Hi, sorry but I can see everything on your screen there".

Ok.

She knows that people can see! She has someone else sat right next to her! Do I need to tell her to remember to drink plenty of water too since it's hot?

OP posts:
andnowwhatdowedo · 28/05/2026 17:43

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:36

That's fine 🤣 I can accept that I'm nosey.

But I'm not the one with an obligation for this man's confidentiality.

With hindsight, you might have tapped her on the shoulder and said 'Excuse me, I can see everything you are writing and it looks confidential. I don't know the man or the company, but one day you might sit near someone who does.' Then at least she would know.

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:42

Backedoffhackedoff · 28/05/2026 17:41

But I wouldn’t know would I? Neither would the person this HR person is writing about. And the person spying through the chairs doesn’t known them either, so the breach of privacy has no impact.

Not sure I accept that as good enough, I expect better from people in a professional capacity.

OP posts:
SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:41

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:39

Kind of feel like those saying IABU wouldn't be saying that if it were their HR typing up their grievance meeting on a busy train.

I don't mind being called nosey or even rude but I still don't actually think that makes me the unreasonable one in this situation.

But you care so much that you've taken to a parenting forum to discuss it, rather than say "Hi, sorry but I can see everything on your screen there".

Ok.

Backedoffhackedoff · 28/05/2026 17:41

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:39

Kind of feel like those saying IABU wouldn't be saying that if it were their HR typing up their grievance meeting on a busy train.

I don't mind being called nosey or even rude but I still don't actually think that makes me the unreasonable one in this situation.

But I wouldn’t know would I? Neither would the person this HR person is writing about. And the person spying through the chairs doesn’t known them either, so the breach of privacy has no impact.

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:40

1dayatatime · 28/05/2026 17:37

Honestly @Elphabababait would be so fitting if you reported this breach of GDPR by HR about writing up a document about an employee complaining of a breach of GDPR. You will have single handed won his complaint for him like a guardian angel!!😀

Or lost some poor overworked woman her job.

If the OP really cared, she'd push her face further between the seats and tell the woman she can see her screen.

Backedoffhackedoff · 28/05/2026 17:40

Trumpisacunt · 28/05/2026 17:35

Probably the bit that states. That the regulation mandates that personal data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security, protecting it from unauthorized access, accidental loss, or unlawful disclosure

Which section though?
and what personal data are you referring to?

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:39

Kind of feel like those saying IABU wouldn't be saying that if it were their HR typing up their grievance meeting on a busy train.

I don't mind being called nosey or even rude but I still don't actually think that makes me the unreasonable one in this situation.

OP posts:
Libre2 · 28/05/2026 17:39

ParmaVioletTea · 28/05/2026 17:37

Yes, you're a nosey parker.

Reading people's screens is as rude as reading their newspapers or books over their shoulders.

Pffft, rude it might be but people do it (evidently!) and I definitely would - because I am nosy for sure. So the OP is right, this should not be done on a train. All our firm’s lawyers have privacy screens - it’s not rocket science.

1dayatatime · 28/05/2026 17:37

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:33

That is odd, but I suppose this isn't the first time that someone has been writing work things that they shouldn't have, on the train.
Id be curious to read what the consensus was on the other thread so will see if I can find it.

Honestly @Elphabababait would be so fitting if you reported this breach of GDPR by HR about writing up a document about an employee complaining of a breach of GDPR. You will have single handed won his complaint for him like a guardian angel!!😀

ParmaVioletTea · 28/05/2026 17:37

Yes, you're a nosey parker.

Reading people's screens is as rude as reading their newspapers or books over their shoulders.

frumpydump · 28/05/2026 17:36

YABU. Stop being so nosey.

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:36

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:34

I think the consensus was 'get your nose out of the gap between the back of the seats'.

But that's relying on memory.

That's fine 🤣 I can accept that I'm nosey.

But I'm not the one with an obligation for this man's confidentiality.

OP posts:
Trumpisacunt · 28/05/2026 17:35

Backedoffhackedoff · 28/05/2026 17:28

i wouldn’t think twice about this. I do think its really odd you’ve been reading it between the chairs- you must really be looking.

what section of GDPR do you think it’s breaching?

Probably the bit that states. That the regulation mandates that personal data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security, protecting it from unauthorized access, accidental loss, or unlawful disclosure

JuliettaCaeser · 28/05/2026 17:35

Stop being such a nosy Parker!

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 28/05/2026 17:35

Most employers have a code of practice for confidentiality. If info can be seen by others, they have no doubt breached it. You could report them and it’s normally a disciplinary offence. Might have been kinder to say you could see the notes? There have been lawyers struck off for similar.

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:34

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:33

That is odd, but I suppose this isn't the first time that someone has been writing work things that they shouldn't have, on the train.
Id be curious to read what the consensus was on the other thread so will see if I can find it.

I think the consensus was 'get your nose out of the gap between the back of the seats'.

But that's relying on memory.

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 17:33

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:31

Odd.

We had exactly this thread a few months ago, complete with peeking through the gap between the back of the seat.

That is odd, but I suppose this isn't the first time that someone has been writing work things that they shouldn't have, on the train.
Id be curious to read what the consensus was on the other thread so will see if I can find it.

OP posts:
1dayatatime · 28/05/2026 17:32

Many years ago I was traveling to London for a meeting between 3 or 4 companies and by shear chance ended up sitting next to someone who was writing a PowerPoint presentation for that exact meeting.

Of course I read it whilst they were typing it up. At the meeting there was a vague look of recognition from him of a "haven't I seen you somewhere before ".

plims · 28/05/2026 17:32

She was being unreasonable.

You were also unreasonable for reading the documents to such an extent that you know all of that information about the employee.

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:31

Odd.

We had exactly this thread a few months ago, complete with peeking through the gap between the back of the seat.

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