To feel uncomfortable overhearing this conversation?

[MrsGaryLightbody]

I'm sat in coffee shop in town and could hear everything being spoken about. It's a kind of return to work interview with a guy who's off with mental health issues.
As someone who's own mental health is poor I may be overreacting but I felt so uncomfortable with questions he was by asked in such a public place that I moved tables.
I can't leave yet as I'm killing time waiting for a rural bus.
It just seems so sad and unprofessional that he's having to talk any personal stuff to what seems to be his supervisor/ manager in a public environment.

It depends who chose the venue and why.

You don't know the back story to any of this. He might have chosen the venue himself, or declined to go into the office if he's still on sick leave.

The options for a meeting like that, if the person is still on sick leave, are:

a) the person who is unwell goes to the office
b) the manager/HR person goes to the unwell person's home
c) the two people meet at a neutral location like a cafe.

Not everyone wants to do A or B, so C is then the only real option. Plus some people prefer what they perceive to be a more relaxed setting.

If he was forced to have the meeting in that venue, that would be different, but you can't possibly know that was the case.

Probably he was ok with it as everyone in the coffee shop is a stranger? They might not have anywhere private to have this conversation.

I would feel uncomfortable too. There's a time and place for back to work interviews and a public cafe isn't one of them. I'm sure it was done to make the person feel more comfortable but it just feels wrong

My GP told me employers aren't even allowed to ask.

If it made you feel uncomfortable imagine the damage done to that poor person.
I presume it wasn't a supportive chat then. Talking about your own mental health is embarrassing even to a loved one.
Shame isn't it.

I worked in a place once were it was common to have honest discussions (opposed to professional discussions) in the coffee shop downstairs. It was part of the culture that you were encouraged to form friendships and equal relationships with your superiors. I think these casual chats helped.

I was offered a return to work meeting in a cafe. I preferred to have it in a meeting room in one of the offices, because I feel a bit like you do. I wouldn't want to accidentally bump into someone I'm acquainted with. My boss seemed surprised. It seems to be fairly usual!

but I felt so uncomfortable with questions he was by asked in such a public place that I moved tables.

The choice of venue doesn't seem to be the main issue, I would say it's the questions.

I'd feel uncomfortable too OP hearing that kind of conversation.

It was also more private than the office which was open plan with clear soundproof mini offices which everyone could see into from their desks (so not as comfortable if you get visibly emotional as a coffee shop).

Of course employers are allowed to ask ! But of course only in the context relevant to work etc.
OP I wouldn’t overthink this. You have no idea what has been agreed and it might be the employee who suggested it. But you have done the right thing by moving away to give them their privacy where possible.

I totally understand that a check in or return to work catch is needed. But the questions I could easily overhear were very intrusive. It's still going on , I can see that couple at table nearest to them are avidly listening.
The guy is very emotional and I feel so sad and upset for him. The woman asking the questions has hardly looked up from her laptop and contorting talk very loudly about his issues.

Coffee shops etc are public spaces, and as long as both parties to the conversation were ok with it, I don't see it as an issue.

Maybe they worked in a chronically underfunded sector, and had nowhere else to meet. When I worked with homeless people I'd often have to meet clients in coffee shops and other public places. Most of them had MH issues or other stuff going on as well. I've had clients suddenly disclose the most incredibly personal stuff in a busy public place.

It's far from ideal, imo, and it's a tricky call as to which is best: to interrupt and ask if they want to save it until you can meet somewhere more private, or let them get it off their chests.

There were also clients with no boundary issues who would talk loudly about very personal medical matters and other stuff which would require a trigger warning on here. One young woman even managed to reach my personal embarrassment threshold, which is set very high indeed. When she left, another customer got up to leave and stopped by my table on the way out. I thought she was going to have a go at me, but she just said "You have the patience of a saint, I don't know how you do it".

I actually have a very short fuse. I must have been having a good day that day.