Manager sharing confidential email with other staff

[WonderIfThingsWillChange]

Hi, I have recently been on long term sick and following a sickness meeting had agreed to return to work. However it became clear that my manager was not happy with the new agreement in place and made it difficult for me to find suitable shifts. I emailed her about my concerns and in the email I included information relating to my health and medication. On my return to work I found out that she was so annoyed that she showed my email to my colleagues. Can I pursue this further? I feel humiliated that my colleagues now know all about my health when I had not chosen to tell them. Any advice much appreciated,

Do you have evidence the email has been shared? She surely wasn't stupid/unprofessional enough to email it to others?

Yes, this is a very serious breach of confidentiality and you absolutely must pursue the matter - whether or not there's evidence she's shared it. That is extraordinarily out of order and, I think, a sacking offence.

Hi, I do not know if she has forwarded the email (although I wouldn't be surprised) but one of my colleagues told me she read it so I have a witness. I expect she also showed her group is friends but can't prove it unless she emailed it. I think I need to report it to HR or get union involved for support. There are other issues here (bullying and harassment) bit it's the breach of confidentiality that has really upset me. I feel so humiliated.

Well, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You are ill and you have treatment appropriate to your illness. However, that in no way excuses what has happened, it is your private business and it should be your choice who you disclose it to. I would do both - talk to HR and the union, esp if you think HR might try to fudge it for the sake of an easy life.

Does your work have a policy about this kind of thing? Ours has an absence management policy, which includes statements about sharing such information only on a 'need to know' basis. Eg, you may feel you need to tell your line manager a lot of detail about your illness and treatment, so that she understands why you need changes made. However, she does not need to share all of that. It should be enough for her to tell the others 'Wonder needs some adjustments to her shifts for the next X weeks /months which we need to support so that she gets back to full health' (apologies if my ramblings are not helpful!).