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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:
blueluce85 · 29/05/2026 22:09

Find the email address of the person who raised the grievance and tell them....it will enhance their complaint!

Wimin123 · 29/05/2026 22:02

ElectricSnail · 28/05/2026 20:06

Can’t begin to imagine wanting to cause a stranger a whole world of potential pain/disciplinary action by reporting them.

Same here! Quite horrible actually.

Pigeonatthewheel · 29/05/2026 21:44

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 20:36

I was responding to someone that compared me to the “stasi”, the post has justifiably been deleted. But do not speak to me about my post being ludicrously OTT!

FYI I only read the first four lines of your post, not interested in the rest because you’re massively ill informed.

As we approach 300 posts we see Godwin’s Law in action. P.S we know you read it all, and I’m not ill informed - in fact some would say I am the illest when it comes to being informed

AngelRoja · 29/05/2026 21:19

Elphabababa · 28/05/2026 19:12

I'm off the train.

I remember the company name. I'll sleep on it. I'm considering sending a generic email not specifying any details but suggesting they consider reminding employees of expectations around working in public.

This sounds like a fair way to do it. You will not be personalizing your complaint and maybe it will be a wake up.call for more than one person.
I would be horrified if train passengers could see my personal details because someone didnt protect them when working in a public place.

NotMeAtAll · 29/05/2026 21:17

IDontHateRainbows · 28/05/2026 17:26

Tell Alanis Morrisette to put that in a song! Isn't it ironic! ( the gdpr breach)

It wouldn't work, as (unlike Ms. Morrisette) you understand what ironic means. 🤣

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 20:36

Pigeonatthewheel · 29/05/2026 20:31

Given that this was a case regarding someone making a GDPR complaint your comparative examples are ludicrously OTT. In the context of this specific data breach (as opposed to all data breaches - some are actually serious) some more appropriate wrongdoing examples might be: putting your bins out three days early because you’re going away, sharing one streaming account over multiple households, saying your kids not yet two to get in free, failure to scoop your dogs poop (actually no, that one does deserve a custodial). You mention this being about a person being outed as if the HR woman has actually outed them. The chain of events required for that is for nosey Parker to publish the specific details online and this distinctly boring set of information to go viral so their colleagues find out. If I found out this information about one of my colleagues I’d find it far too boring to pass on. Now if I heard about one of them ringing up a random company to complain about what they had peeped between the seats, I’d consider that worthwhile gossip.

I was responding to someone that compared me to the “stasi”, the post has justifiably been deleted. But do not speak to me about my post being ludicrously OTT!

FYI I only read the first four lines of your post, not interested in the rest because you’re massively ill informed.

Pigeonatthewheel · 29/05/2026 20:31

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 19:57

I care because I’m on this thread and shocked at the lack of empathy that people have about people that are wronged.

I care if I hear about a child abused and would have empathy and report, about a woman physically abused and report and anyone emotionally abused and report. This is about a person being “outed” because someone is so lazy they don’t take care of confidentiality, don’t work in a secure area.

Your reference to being “Stasi” is abhorrent.

Given that this was a case regarding someone making a GDPR complaint your comparative examples are ludicrously OTT. In the context of this specific data breach (as opposed to all data breaches - some are actually serious) some more appropriate wrongdoing examples might be: putting your bins out three days early because you’re going away, sharing one streaming account over multiple households, saying your kids not yet two to get in free, failure to scoop your dogs poop (actually no, that one does deserve a custodial). You mention this being about a person being outed as if the HR woman has actually outed them. The chain of events required for that is for nosey Parker to publish the specific details online and this distinctly boring set of information to go viral so their colleagues find out. If I found out this information about one of my colleagues I’d find it far too boring to pass on. Now if I heard about one of them ringing up a random company to complain about what they had peeped between the seats, I’d consider that worthwhile gossip.

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I care because I’m on this thread and shocked at the lack of empathy that people have about people that are wronged.

I care if I hear about a child abused and would have empathy and report, about a woman physically abused and report and anyone emotionally abused and report. This is about a person being “outed” because someone is so lazy they don’t take care of confidentiality, don’t work in a secure area.

Your reference to being “Stasi” is abhorrent.

Gwenhwyfar · 29/05/2026 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 19:47

Gwenhwyfar · 29/05/2026 19:45

Why do you care? It's not your job to supervise people who don't work for you!

Why do you care that I care? It’s nothing to do with you my views!

Gwenhwyfar · 29/05/2026 19:45

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 18:46

It’s not a place to work whilst on a train! Why was the person doing it?

Why do you care? It's not your job to supervise people who don't work for you!

KM123456 · 29/05/2026 19:38

I would contact the company and state the facts. She obviously didn't realize, and you may be doing her a favour. Something similar happened to me many years ago on a plane: I sat in front of a couple discussing confidential info about people I knew. I now assume that anything i write/discuss in public in any fashion can be public knowledge and behave accordingly.

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 19:07

Topsy44 · 29/05/2026 19:03

This.

Can you imagine having your “indiscretions” at work, being openly available on a train?

I mean why was the person working on a train? Why would their employer expect this?

JuliettaCaeser · 29/05/2026 19:07

Exactly Electicsnail! Why create a load of stress and misery for the woman. Can’t imagine having this busy body tell tale mindset. It’s like Americans suing people all the time. How does it harm you?

Raciney · 29/05/2026 19:06

I saw someone on the train writing an email to tell someone else that they’d be making large scale redundancies. I could see the company, it was a big one. I was standing and he was seated. People (usually men) have no self awareness.

Viviennemary · 29/05/2026 19:05

Stop peering through gaps in seats. Honestly some folk!

Topsy44 · 29/05/2026 19:03

ElectricSnail · 28/05/2026 20:06

Can’t begin to imagine wanting to cause a stranger a whole world of potential pain/disciplinary action by reporting them.

This.

Wildefish · 29/05/2026 18:57

AndyBurnhamForPM · 28/05/2026 17:21

I would contact the company and complain.

Really…

Ole34 · 29/05/2026 18:50

See it all the time. Nothing ever gets done though. I was on a train not too long ago and was sat diagonally to a man who from what I could gather was a surgeon for the NHS. He had on his screen a zoomed in email replying to it. It had the patient details (his name and DOB) and what operation he was getting and where. I was honestly flabbergasted.

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 18:49

Waspy43 · 29/05/2026 18:47

This is funny made me laugh ! 😆

Would make me laugh more, when I reported them! How funny on LinkedIn saying you can vouch for their indiscretions! Brilliant!

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 18:48

Dancingintherain09 · 29/05/2026 18:45

Same, writing up a GDPR issue while creating another 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’d try to find the person on LinkedIn and tell them, or the person writing up the report and post about them and their indiscretions!

Backinajiffy · 29/05/2026 18:47

Complaining to the company is just snide and cowardly.
Tell her ( politely) to her face.

Waspy43 · 29/05/2026 18:47

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 18:45

Stop working on a train in a non private area! Work at work not making up time whilst travelling.

This is funny made me laugh ! 😆

floatinginacoolpool · 29/05/2026 18:46

Dancingintherain09 · 29/05/2026 18:45

Same, writing up a GDPR issue while creating another 🤦🏼‍♀️

It could be a line in an Alanis Morissette song Grin

Witchonenowbob · 29/05/2026 18:46

Gwenhwyfar · 29/05/2026 18:26

Exactly so it's none of your business.

It’s not a place to work whilst on a train! Why was the person doing it?