To wonder if this is appropriate in Teams meetings?

[AmpleHedgehog]

I'm doing Teams training for a role which is soul destroying but I am transferring very soon, thank goodness.

We're on Teams all day every day, about 15 of us with workplace trainers. One of the trainers, although nice, likes to know and discuss everyone's business.

If someone isn't in for whatever reason she will tell the whole class. 'Sarah isn't in today because she's got a medical appointment.'

'Martin is on a half day because his child is sick.

'Hedgehog is going to be off next Tuesday, she's had this booked for a while but I don't know what it's for.'

I just think it's not really anyone's business, am I overreacting?

Separate issue, not inappropriate just a bit annoying. When we take our lunch (which is a break from talking to her all day) even if she sees you eating, she will come over and ask you questions about the work or shout over at you, even if she sees me putting the food in my mouth! Only option is to leave ans eat elsewhere

No I think that’s completely unnecessary to say why people are off.

My boss might say Sarah’s gone home as her child’s unwell - to let us know she’s ok herself but never would they say why someone was off.

They wouldn’t really even need to say X is off because we can see that they’re not there.

Its only if we’re in a meeting and he says is everyone here and someone says Sarah’s not here and then he’d just say she’s not in today.

My boss does sometimes talk work at lunchtime but as it’s very rare then I don’t mind.
Its also only when it relates to something happening that afternoon.
It would really annoy me if it’s a regular thing.

She does sound annoying.
I’m wondering if she’s a bit of a control freak.
I think I would bite my tongue if you’re transferring soon though.

I think you're over-reacting. She sounds like she's just very chatty and extrovert and orderly. If it bothers you perhaps you could chair the meeting occasionally so you can cover the 'not here's' how you want too.

Its really inappropriate to share other people's business especially as some of this is private information like medical appointments and caring responsilites.

So breaching loads of HR and GDPR policies.

Totally inappropriate and I don’t think you’re overreacting at all.

Reminds me of when I first started in my current job. I had a bad cold and had a couple of days off sick. I thought it was a bit odd that my manager emailed the entire team to tell them that I was sick, especially as the team work completely independently of each other so no-one needed to know that I wasn’t in the office, let alone that I was sick. But I was new, so I thought “oh maybe that’s just what they do here.” A few weeks later I found out, no that isn’t what they do here, it was just me that had been singled out.

Anyway OP no you are not overreacting at all. You may need to be told that someone isn’t in, you don’t need to be told why they’re not in, and any manager should be expected to keep it confidential.

I would report her for doing this. Completely inappropriate to discuss someone’s private business with a group of randoms in a Teams Meeting. HR should shut it down.

Inappropriate for sure

can you turn camera off at lunch? So she can’t see you eating?

You're on Teams training in the same room?

Is this teams or in person. Surely if it's teams she can only see you eating if you choose to do so in front of your web cam. If you do maybe she thinks you want to chat?

She sounds thick a shit.
Yanbu.

I think it’s only relevant in certain circumstances - I’d say that bereavement would be one of them, so that people manage emailing / return appropriately. Totally fine to flag when people will be in later or will be off for the whole day etc, but no one needs a full briefing on circumstances

this part I find baffling. If you are doing this on Teams, how is she 'approaching' you? And can you not just turn off teams while you are having your lunch?

You can be in the office on teams, obviously.

But it's not like she's saying 'Derek is absent because he needs his anal warts frozen off, again' or 'Doreen is off because she says she's got period pain but is probably hungover'. 'Barry isn't in today because he attempted suicide last night'.

It's not like a medical appointment or a child being sick is a big massive sensitive secret? I'd maybe tell them something generic. Not the actual medical reason.

I think she's just a bit of a chatty Cathy - I don't imagine there's any malice in it.

If it really bothered me, I'd maybe email her quietly and ask if she wouldn't mind leaving you alone on your breaks, but I think reporting it or turning it into a big issue is just likely to hurt feelings all round.

Do you have a communal area to take your lunch? I would definitely be avoiding taking my lunch break at my desk if you can.

I wouldn't be able to stop myself saying "that's inappropriate, it is sufficient to know they are not here"

As for people approaching me during my break? First time i may say "later, i'm on my break" after that i will just hold up my warning finger and carry on ignoring them...

Depending on how the invitations go out and what info you can see regarding other attendees, people should decline the meetings they can't attend and she shouldn't be telling you specifics for privacy reasons. If she's regularly interrupting your break and it's not something you can quickly reply on then either take yourself elsewhere or mark yourself as away in Teams.

OP did I now note post that this was a additional issue..😂

Exactly this. The person sharing this info to other team members should get into deep 💩… report to HR citing GDPR Regulations. Good luck

Not professional, no. She should just say “X sends their apologies” to let people know X isn’t coming and no need to wait for them to arrive.

The thing is, you need to politely pull her aside and tell her that you don't think it's appropriate to say why people are absent.

She shouldn't need telling but she clearly does.