Aibu to think my boss is unfair?

[Brittbugs80]

I've been signed off sick for a week with swollen glands, inflamed tonsils, inner ear infection and chest infection alongside a panic attack at work this morning. I told my boss over the phone that I had been signed off and she asked what it said on certificate. I said anxiety and chest/ear infection. She said "well drop the certificate in when you decide to come back"

I've since had two what's app messages from two people in my room saying "get better soon stress head" when I asked what she meant, she said "oh boss said you've been signed off with stress" the second said "hope you get better soon and your anxiety isn't too bad" asked her and she said "oh boss came into the room and told everyone you were off sick with anxiety"

Surely it's not for her to tell everyone why I'm off sick?

They're totally out of order-it's nog for them to share your medical problems.

Get well soon.

Your manager most have broken some kind of confidentiality agreement here. Most companies don't allow illnesses to be freely discussed

I do think she's being a bit U to broadcast the specific reasons for your absence to your co-workers. However, I do think it's best to avoid mentioning anxiety in the future. Not because of any "taboo" thing, don't get me wrong, but because it's just not something most people tend to take seriously.

Inappropriate of your boss - I'd be tempted to tell your HR dept and ask them to remind her about not sharing personal data without your permission (to get it on record). If she doesn't seem repentant, you could raise it as a grievance (tho I probably wouldn't unless there have been other problems, as it might be awkward working for her then).
If it bothers you that people have the wrong info, you could tell them the full list of why you're off, but only if you want to.
Hope you feel better soon

But you had a panic attack at work so not surprising that people know about it?

BTW, its not about specific company rules, no one has the right to share your personal info with a bunch of people (and what you're ill with is personal!), without your permission, under the Data Protection Act.

is4profit.com/employee-privacy-know-the-law/

A very large breach of confidentiality

We are only small and no HR dept but I just wanted to check as it's coming across from my boss that she had to tell everyone as they wanted to know why they were covering me and that they couldn't do it indefinitely.

I've no intention of this being an "indefinite" problem. I've not been off sick in 5 years, I work 50 hours and am exposed to germs daily in the line of work.

The attack was in the office with just the boss while she was asking me to take on a more senior role and responsibilities for more hours, same money so no one saw what happened.

I wouldn't say your boss was unfair - that would be minimising it.

Your boss has been completely unprofessional and they have breache confidentiality. You could escalate this to HR.