to think this is grossly out of order by manager

[OhdearNigel]

Colleague is off sick after very tragic 19wk miscarriage. Manager today was in our office discussing with HR over the phone the contents of a very distressing email she had been sent with talks of suicide and openly gossiping (under the veil of concern) about it with two other colleagues. I was sitting about 35 ft away and could hear it all clearly despite working in an office where people are on the phone all the time so lots of background noise.

WIBU to be outraged at casual discussion of hideously distressing event that should have remained private and reporting it to manager's senior manager (which is what I did) ?

Well done Nigel, many people would cat's bum about it, but DO nothing. The manager is a twunt, and the other staff don't deserve to have to put up with such unprofessional behaviour. hopefully you reporting this incident will prompt their management to sort out this idiot once and for all. at a minimum, you've done the right thing by the colleague they were gossiping about :)

Awful. You did the right thing.

Very pleased you reported it. Most people are too worried about the consequences.

Well done for reporting it. I remember working for a large corporation with a colleague who role included occasional counselling of members of staff. She discussed really personal things she'd been told by someone who had left. Like the OP's case it was done with a veil of sympathy but I was so shocked that someone could abuse trust like this! I wish I'd reported it :(