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Original poster

Manager told team about my health issue

65 replies

LaLobita · 16/03/2023 14:00

Not sure what to think about this.

I have PMDD and last week it triggered a mental health crisis. I had to take a few days off and seek medical attention. Normally I work through it but it was not something possible this month. It was my first time in a year in the role where I have had to take time off due to it.

So anyway I’ve returned to work and it emerges that my boss has told my whole team (9 people) that I had a nervous breakdown. I can’t help feeling that this is invading my privacy? Not sure if I’m overreacting here but I already feel quite vulnerable due to last week and now I feel embarrassed that all my team know from a third party about my mental health issues.

OP posts:
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 16/03/2023 14:43

Hi,

Your medical information is covered under GDPR as special category data, and should not have been shared. And then there's the crass term 'mental breakdown'.

Have you talked to your manager about why they said what they did? Do you have an HR department?

aspies · 16/03/2023 17:01

Our manager does this ALL the time. We always know why someone is off sick. Terrible isn't it

CathyCandle · 16/03/2023 17:04

This is totally unacceptable OP and you are not overreacting. I manage people and would never even disclose that someone is off sick, never mind the reason. All they need to say, if others need to know whether you are present or not, is that you are off or out of office. Nothing more.

The reality is that the team will assume someone is off sick if it's unplanned but I'd never confirm that.

Lostinplaces · 16/03/2023 17:08

Totally unacceptable and I would be making it know how angry I was about. Absolutely complain if you feel able to and feel better soon.

CurlyTop1980 · 16/03/2023 17:12

Wow. That is awful. I worked as a manager in Childrens services for years and I would never discuss any staffs illness or personal matters unless they gave me explicit (and written) consent to do so.

This is a gross misconduct breach of data. How do you know the manager told the staff ream?

Greenfairydust · 16/03/2023 17:15

Completely unacceptable and a breach of your private medical information which goes against the organisation legal responsibilities under GDPR.

This should have stayed between you and your manager.

Also, as there is still a stigma around mental health unfortunately, there is the additional issue that your manager could be implying that you are not able to do your job and actively undermining you.

I would lodge a complaint with HR about this.

Original poster
LaLobita · 16/03/2023 17:41

CurlyTop1980 · 16/03/2023 17:12

Wow. That is awful. I worked as a manager in Childrens services for years and I would never discuss any staffs illness or personal matters unless they gave me explicit (and written) consent to do so.

This is a gross misconduct breach of data. How do you know the manager told the staff ream?

All our daily huddles are recorded and I had to watch the ones I missed. He clearly said on the meeting ‘LaLobita has had a nervous breakdown so she’s out of action til she sorts herself out’.

I have a meeting with HR tomorrow anyway so I will be mentioning it - there’s also been issues with him claiming my sales for commission so I think I might just cut my losses here and look for a new role, as the trust is gone.

OP posts:
Rachaelrachael · 16/03/2023 17:46

I would definitely put in a complaint with HR, that's terrible behaviour

Westfacing · 16/03/2023 17:51

That's a terrible breach of confidence.

It's not like saying, Mary has flu/lurgy/twisted ankle.

I'm really shocked.

MajorCarolDanvers · 16/03/2023 17:54

Definitely raise it with HR in your meeting. Its not acceptable behaviour by your manager.

If you are planning to move on anyway, you should think about raising a greivance.

BlueSeaWave · 16/03/2023 17:56

If you can still access that recording, make a copy of it even if on your phone. The fact they knew they weee being recorded and still said it is awful

callthataspade · 16/03/2023 17:56

God definitely raise that with hr

It's such a massive breach

I know you said they're recorded. Any way of getting a copy downloaded for your records?

But he sounds like an arse. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this

spelunky · 16/03/2023 18:00

It's a breach of GDPR, as others have said.

File a complaint and leave the job as soon as you can. I hope your manager receives some sort of disciplinary for this as it's way out of order, not only sharing the details of someone's absence but the language used 'nervous breakdown' is awful and insensitive.

I would be shouting about it and making sure everyone in HR and his manager knew what he had done. Horrendous.

Doesthepopeshitinthewoods · 16/03/2023 18:18

LaLobita · 16/03/2023 17:41

All our daily huddles are recorded and I had to watch the ones I missed. He clearly said on the meeting ‘LaLobita has had a nervous breakdown so she’s out of action til she sorts herself out’.

I have a meeting with HR tomorrow anyway so I will be mentioning it - there’s also been issues with him claiming my sales for commission so I think I might just cut my losses here and look for a new role, as the trust is gone.

Show quote history

Take him to the cleaners, for the huge breach of your private medical details and for taking your sales commission.

RunningFromInsanity · 16/03/2023 18:22

Huge breach!

When I was signed off for my ‘mental breakdown’ (depression), noone was told why, just that I was off sick with no timeline for return.

Afterwards my friend/colleague said they thought I had fallen off my horse and broken my legs! No one had any inkling it was to do with mental not physical sickness.

WeeOrcadian · 16/03/2023 18:26

Wow, that's absolutely unacceptable. I've just had two weeks off for a chest infection and my team know - that made me angry. Reading your post has boiled my piss.

Please make sure you speak to HR, raise a grievance if you feel strong enough and consider taking someone into the meeting with you, someone 'on your side' who can just be moral support, if nothing else.

Bastards.

carriedout · 16/03/2023 18:27

That is disgraceful.

Please take a transcript of that meeting (you may not be allowed to make a recording under your work rules).

Personally, I would seriously consider raising a grievance and state it as a breach of GDPR. It is not a she said/he said incident - it happened, you have seen the evidence.

Dogsarebetterthanhumans · 16/03/2023 18:49

You wont strictly be allowed to record the huddle but your manager wasn’t strictly allowed to behave like a dick so I would record it on your phone.
Go to HR and throw the GDPR book at him.

Calmdown14 · 16/03/2023 18:54

I thought you were going to say you've been off for an extended period in which case it can be helpful for colleagues to know a little (with consent) where there needs to be planning to pick up tasks and so that they understand it's long term in nature.

But for a few days and with something so sensitive this is bang out of order.

You have evidence you should raise your concerns to HR. If not for you so no one else has to go through this. And if you do decide you want to take it further then it's properly documented.

BritishDesiGirl · 16/03/2023 19:02

Please report this.

My line manager thought it was appropriate to telly colleagues that l was " on bed rest" prompting to ask about my pregnancy 5 week in when l hadn't told anyone.

Don't let them get away with it

Bearpawk · 16/03/2023 19:03

Fucking hell, HR here.
Don't quit ... how long have tin worked there ?
Raise a grievance re the gdpr breach and tell them you'll be informing the ICO
If you end up leaving you have a very good claim for constructive dismissal there so they'll likely pay you off

Bearpawk · 16/03/2023 19:03

Also download a copy of the meeting and email yourself or record it on your phone

Goodread1 · 16/03/2023 19:07

Hi Op
It's totally unacceptable, for your manager to say this,

It's covered by data protection( law ) that personal infor is just that totally personal and to never be divulged to co workers,

TimeForMeToF1y · 16/03/2023 19:10

Westfacing · 16/03/2023 17:51

That's a terrible breach of confidence.

It's not like saying, Mary has flu/lurgy/twisted ankle.

I'm really shocked.

Why is worse to disclose mental health rather than physical health?

Doesn't that perpetrate the view that mental health problems are something to be ashamed of?

Obviously he shouldn't discloae either without consent

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 16/03/2023 19:13

That's shocking, for a weeks absence, dreadful to give them inaccurate medical details but then to add "Until she sorts herself out." Even worse, implies that it's a massive inconvenience brought about by the fact that you cannot "manage" yourself and it is something that you could easily "sort out" on your own if only you made an effort.
Offensive on so many levels. But to announce that in a recorded meeting to 9 people. Incredibly undermining and actually.
Have you got legal protection on your house insurance. Worth ringing to see what they think Or Union.
What an absolute git.