WhatsApp - confidential ?

[FippertyGibbett]

If a group of work mates had a group chat for things to do with work and home/kids etc would it be a breach of confidentiality if a member of that group showed it to a manager, not in the group, and it was used against a member of the group ?
Thanks.

I doubt it. Surely a person can show their own phone to whoever they want.

Do you mean someone in the group is facing disciplinary action as a result of the contents of the WhatsApp group? If so, then that would be acceptable. Lots of people are dismissed from their jobs because of what the put on social media or how they act away from the office.

I assumed that what was put on a group chat was to be between those people in the group only.
Just like I wouldn’t show someone a text or email I was sent.
I’m obviously wrong.
Thanks.

I think there's a thing called 'expectation of privacy'. Not sure whether it's a US thing though and have a feeling it may refer to slander or similar.

Can you give us more context as to what was said, who reported what and to whom and what the repercussions are?

What was it that was said?

I don't know how it works, but I can see a difference between for e.g. Mum A messaging the group 'Our boss, Mr Hidges is an awful cunt' and one of the group showing Mr Hidges.

Then I think it would be different if Mum A messaged the group and said, 'gonna have to ring in sick, little Alan puking all night and I've run out of parental leave' and one of the group showing that to Mr Hidges.

Sounds like the cat is out of the bag now though. So, you've got a snitch in your midst. Trust no cunt.

Do you mean breach of confidentiality morally or legally?

The rule of thumb is do not write anything on social media, email, messaging apps that you would not be comfortable with other people seeing.

I take it you are in trouble because of this, OP?

Has the company said it's seen the WhatsApp message, otherwise it could be someone verbally repeating the message?

This reminds me of uni. Students on a WhatsApp group were giving hints of questions that came up in an exam (one exam held over two days).
One of the group took screenshots and sent them to the lecturers, it didn't end well for the ones giving hints

My manager said he was disappointed in what he had read.
It was nothing bad and it stopped there, but I’m more disappointed in the person who showed him. I assumed some confidentiality between the members of the group, I certainly would not have done what she did.
You learn something every day !
And yes, trust no one.

I think it is implied that what is put in a group is for those in the group. I don't think legally there is any kind of right to privacy. It's like a secret you can't sue someone for breaking your trust and telling others.

I think morally like a pp it depends what was said generally moaning about someone drinking the last of the coffee again, moaning about a boss then I would think the person sharing was a bit of a arse! I think if it involves the safe/smoothing running of the business like someone admiring they don't know how to do something vital to there job, abusing sick leave then that's different. I think it would be right to let someone know. Same goes if it turns into multiple comments about the same person in a nasty bullying like way.

But i don't think your question is about the moral aspect I think it's more about if privacy can be used to mitigate potential disciplinary? And to my knowledge no WhatsApp, email and text aren't private, but it might vary depending on where you are based

I don't really know, but it's a shitty thing to do. If you don't like what someone has written, call them out on it or keep quiet.

Unless it was something like "I'm going to bring a knife to work on Monday and stab coworker A", in which case people do have a duty to report, obviously!

sounds weird to me OP 🤔 so a private (whatsapp group) conversation, between friends, has been used against one of them in the work place. Yes that sounds very odd, unless as previously stated, a threat to life etc. What Dick friend showed the conversation to their boss 😱

Personally, I'd be removing myself from the group, no trust and all that.

I will remove myself from the group and I will delete the phone number from my phone of the person who snitched.
Although that won’t solve the problem as it seems nothing is private and you’re not permitted any confidentiality.
I can see why people go off grid and live in the woods, it’s getting very tempting.

Is the person who told and your manager particularly close? Can't even imagine why/how it would have come up in conversation...unless they are in a relationship?

Surely no one would be daft enough to write something bad or negative in a work what's app group?!

Similar happened at our work place, WhatsApp group created to foster team spirit and moral support during Covid. Two team members bitched about 3rd colleague not in our direct team and were reported. Hardly surprising, just look at mumsnet, people love to snitch!

Surely no one would be daft enough to write something bad or negative in a work what's app group?!

You'd think so, but facebook, WhatsApp etc have caused trouble in many workplaces.