HR confidentiality issue

[stupidperson]

Anybody know anything about HR?
Think I have made a stupid mistake and given too much information to the HR manager at work. Just got in a state and blurted stuff out - now really worried she will go and reveal all to boss - what is the likelihood this will remain within realms of 'confidentiality'? And does that even exist? AAGH panicking........

Was the stuff you blurted about you or about a colleague? Does it reflect on your ability to do your job?

Whatever you say should be confidential so long as it is not detrimental to the business. So if you just unloaded about personal issues you should be ok.
Do you want to tell us more?

It was personal to me and, yes, probably will make them think I am not fit to work (i.e. health, not capability).

If you didn't make it clear you were telling her in confidence, and if it is not clear it is sensitive and that you have not also told others the same, then you cannot expect it to be treated that way.

I would go back and talk again, tell them it is confidential this time. Tell them you are worried and see what help they can be. We often offer occupational health referals to our staff who have health issues, partly. so we know they are fit to work but also as a benefit to them in the way of a second opinion. Details of oh referals are confidential.

I'm in HR. I agree with what others have said. If you have disclosed a fairly significant issue which could impact on work, without saying it was confidential, HR might feel they need to speak to your manager.

Ideally, I'd suggest you let your manager and HR know what the issue is, and say it is in confidence, and either that you've got support in dealing with the issue OR that you would like to discuss whether any Occ. health support could be offered.

You might be covered by disability protection (formerly DDA now Equality Act)? If its a long term health issue.

But at the very least, yes go back and let the HR contact know it was said in confidence and that you do not wish it to be repeated (if that's your decision)

HR staff generally know how to treat things in confidence, but they do have a duty of care, so depending on what you've revealed, they might have to take it further. If you're worried have a follow up meeting and ask them if they are intending to do anything.

I'm sorry, but my experience is the opposite - even when I have explicity told HR that I wanted a discussion to remain confidential, they have typically broken this confidentiality within minites (my favourite being when I had an expressly confidential chat with HR over the phone expressing concerns about confidentiality over information given on a previous call to have the manager who the discussion was about come to my office and say 'I understand you have raised some concerns about confidentiality with HR' !!

you might be OK, as mine are as unethical, lazy and as unprofessional as hell (despite being paid more than average and working for a public body), but I would make requests and make summaries about confidentiality by e-mail and even then keep your eye out for violations. I have to say that in ten years of working both in and 'with' HR, about 60% of people working in HR have their loyalty with the company and their managers, and don't think for a minute that they are doing anything unethical by discussing your full case even with an accused party if that person is senior to you. For some reason despite all the evidence, case law and their own experience, man HR 'professionals' still see junior employees who complain as a dangerous threat to the wider organisation and themselves as defenders of that organisation - its no wonder in some ways as every HR professional's career depends on being 'on the team' with the company - its a bit like asking clegg to be objective about what cameron is doing ..

In my experience HR's first loyalty is to the organisation - so they shouldn't keep anything confidential that might affect the running of the organisation. If you want to discuss health matters confidentially then OHAS is place to go