HR accidentally sends sensitive information about an employee's pregnancy to another colleague, employee states this isn't the first time HR has done this: ‘Is it unreasonable to expect this information not be so carelessly shared?’

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  • "I'm so upse[t], livid even..."
  • "HR sent an email to a colleague instead of my husband about my pregnancy"

    For reference, my husband and I work together in the same company. We met with HR yesterday to
  • go over options for leave. At this point, the only people I have told are my direct supervisor, his
  • supervisor, and HR. I have made it extremely clear that I will share my news as necessary with
  • my colleagues when I am ready- there is zero reason for anyone who now knows to inform
  • anyone else at this time as my position and team are well insulated from the rest of the company.
  • There is a man with a similar name as my husband in the same company but working in a
  • different building. We know him, he knows us. This morning I saw that HR sent out an email
  • yesterday evening to myself and this other man with a recap of obvious parental leave and
  • pregnancy information discussed in our meeting.
  • email icon with an unread message signifying one email is in someone's inbox
  • I'm so upse, livid even, because the Teams meeting HR scheduled in the first place yesterday
  • was ALSO inviting this incorrect man until I corrected them before the meeting started.
  • This is now the second time they've involved someone (same person) who is not my husband in my very personal information.
  • What are my options? I understand mistakes happen, but twice in a row and about
  • something very personal? This was all done by the head of HR.
  • Is it unreasonable to expect this information not be so carelessly shared?
  • Update: HR head that started this is out of office today. I dont know what to do with the knowledge of their absence during this.
  • kayesoob This is a breach of confidentiality. They shared your health info with someone who isn't you and someone you did not consent to share this info with.
  • Go back to HR and tell them about this breach. If you're really upset, seek attorney consult.
  • MamaKat727 This is the SECOND occurrence, as you stated. You have already spoken to property HR after the FIRST occurrence. This is NOT merely a pattern of a simple mistake; this involves serious, careless error involving highly confidential and privileged information involving an employee's health condition.
  • (Hopefully when you made it clear you were not informing anyone in the workplace of your pregnancy other than [named], you did so IN WRITING. If not, ALWAYS do so going forward, even if phrased as a recap of a verbal conversation.) If you have a corporate HQ, ESCALATE TO CORPORATE HR IMMEDIATELY.
  • (Your attempt to correct the first error already constitutes an unsuccessful chain-of- command compliance attempt.) Make sure to document!
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