Privacy Laws at Work

Originally written by Matthew Strawbridge, updated by the editorial team on 4th April 2026

There are various laws in the United Kingdom that affect your entitlement to privacy in the workplace. This article gives a brief summary of the most important ones. More detailed discussion about these laws is available elsewhere on this website.

Human Rights

The European Convention on Human Rights was drawn up to defend the fundamental liberties of the population of Europe. There is specific provision regarding the right to respect for privacy, which is given in Article 8.

In the United Kingdom, this has been brought into law by the Human Rights Act 1998. If you feel that your right to privacy has been infringed at work, and your employer does not or cannot rectify the situation, then you may have a right to make a legal claim under this legislation.

Data Protection

The UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 is a law designed to control how organisations use details about living people. It is overseen by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), who supply useful guidance that businesses can use to ensure their policies comply with the law.

This legislation puts in place responsibilities relating to the collection, storage, processing and disposal of personal details, as well as allowing access to the subjects about whom particulars are held.

Workplace Privacy Checker

Describe what your employer is monitoring or asking for and find out whether it is lawful under UK privacy and data protection law.

Try our Workplace Privacy Checker free, here on this site →

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows people or companies to access facts about public bodies.

This law should only be of concern if you have given your details to a public authority – either directly or as a result of records passed on by a third party – which is then disclosed in a response to a request under the Act. Note that this should not happen because the public authority has a duty to safeguard your private credentials under the Data Protection Act, but this legislation does make an accident of this type more likely.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Health and Safety

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 demand that employers conduct formal risk assessments relating to the safety of the employees in their charge. There may be concerns when these assessments require the collection of personal records from an employee, such as a test to detect drug or alcohol use.

Employees in the transportation industries are subject to specific laws relating to intoxicating substances: The Transport and Works Act 1992 and the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003, which builds upon it.

A Summary of the Law

The Human Rights Act is important because it establishes that a private life is a fundamental human right that must be defended. It states your right to privacy both from other individuals and from public bodies.

The UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 makes specific provisions for ensuring that organisations handle your personal details with respect, and gives you the ability to view and correct them if you choose.

Freedom of information is important only in that it makes it more likely that personal details about you could accidentally be leaked.

Finally, there are various laws relating to health and safety that could compromise the confidentiality of your private actions, particularly regarding employers’ entitlement to administer tests for the presence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Workplace Privacy Checker lets you describe what your employer is monitoring or asking for and find out whether it is lawful under UK privacy and data protection law. Try it now →

59 questions

Ask Employee Privacy Rights a Question

Heather 03/11/2020 at 8:26 am

Hey, I just found out an ex friend of mine went into my old workplace multiple times and asked staff for the reason I wasn't working there anymore just because he didn't like the fact I didn't tell him all the details. I feel as though he has majorly over stepped the mark there in regards to my privacy and I wondered if I could do anything about it?

Kez 09/09/2020 at 7:02 am

Hi, my manager wants me to send my customers a video of myself to my customers, who I may have not met yet. I don't feel comfortable doing this as I feel its open to abuse. I have all my social media settings on maximum privacy as I have had customers try to add me in the past. Am I in my right to refuse to send a video? (it's basically to tell them who I am and that as a reminder for their appointment the next day)

Jb 20/11/2019 at 9:00 pm

I have had a colleague who inundated me with texts about work and complaining about other colleagues. She was recently in trouble and chose to reveal a few texts to our boss to say I was manipulating her. These are totally out of context from the real chain of texts. Can somebody release these without my permission

Doc Bones 28/08/2019 at 7:55 am

Hi, I run a small company for a family member. There are other businesses owned as part of the collective group The office manager and his wife who works from the office occasionally have rifled through a file on my desk and left me a note about it using GDPR as the reason. Am I right in thinking that this is an invasion of privacy and how does GDPR apply?

MarkJacobs 04/05/2019 at 1:43 am

Recently my manager has raised an issue that she believes I have been 'bad mouthing' her whilst on the way to a meeting with a colleague in a company vehicle. She said to investigate, she is going to download the audio from a dashcam? Surely this is a breach of privacy? I haven't signed up to any form of censorship or monitoring policy!

valiusha 20/03/2019 at 2:33 pm

at previous work I was involved in a case with a friend and I was caught when I tried to steal something....I really sorry about that which make a leson for life for me... now I found another job and that security gay come and work also to this job and he told to manager that what happened on previous work... and I lose my work an I really try to do a good job and trying to be right

Roxi 15/03/2019 at 12:46 pm

I have sent an email to my manager at work saying that I cannot come at work for 2 days, he didn’t reply back to me, but he sent the email to the HR , my manager has disclosed my email with my team laughing about my request, now all my team is looking bad to me! What I can do? Can I speak with the hr saying that he disclosed my confidential email in front of the team?
Thank you

Dizzy 08/02/2019 at 5:50 pm

I received another employees invitation to grievance hearing, stating all facts about grievance along with my own ...
I work I healthcare
How can I report this company as it's a terrible breach of confidentiality and I'm left wondering who else has recieved a copy of mine !

Nadine 02/02/2019 at 10:46 am

I have been logged onto my computer at work, left my desk and a colleague has gone to my computer and snooped through my personal Skype conversation history with another colleague. She is now claiming that I have been saying inappropriate things about other colleagues. I have printed off the conversation history and passed it to a manager who agrees there is nothing to substantiate her claims, she is unaware of this. This may sound like a petty situation but the colleague is now spreading rumours against me and actually verbally attacked me on 31/01/19 in front of others. Are there any rules/laws about someone snooping into personal conversations between 2 colleagues?

D 05/10/2018 at 2:51 pm

I work for a benefit agency for the DWP but I will be claiming this benefit myself in due time. I have been told that my case will not be treated as sensitive so any one of my colleagues will be able to view all my personal details, is this legal with regards to confidentiality?

Friend 04/10/2018 at 10:11 am

A colleague of mine recently had a very serious mental health breakdown (attempted suicide) one of his managers contacted another employee and told them all the details of the incident without permission or authority from anyone, where does my friend stand, huge breach of confidentiality I believe.

JJ 23/08/2018 at 12:38 pm

A friend has just told her supervisor that she's expecting, her supervisor has now told all the guys that she's working with on site and now the whole company knows, is there any action she can take because of this?

JR 20/08/2018 at 9:46 am

My old employer has sent out my p45 and wage slip to another ex employee, he has received not only mind but 3 other individuals as well! I have spoken with the ICO who have advised me to contact HR with a letter of formal grievance. But I want to take this further, I want legal action against them for abusing my human rights by breaching my confidentiality. What can I do?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 28/06/2018 at 3:23 pm

Your only recourse would be to raise a grievance, if you feel you have been treated unfairly.

MM 26/06/2018 at 10:28 pm

Hi

I have been offered a new job by a company. I spoke to my current manager about this.
It transpires that this information is now common knowledge areound the office and even employees from the new company know that I have been made an offer due to the leak of info from my current employer. What are my rights?

Liz 17/05/2018 at 8:32 am

Cameras at work are watched all the time.... we are a small shop
And now microphones listening to everything we say.... it’s like being in the big brother house
Is this allowed ?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 15/05/2018 at 2:22 pm

Your husband can make a claim to an employment tribunal if he feels he has been treated unlwafully, In this case, he would be advised to speak to Acas first in order to fully explore his rights.

Susannah 14/05/2018 at 11:54 pm

My husband was ‘compromised’ out of his job after 18 years with his company. He had no warning and on the day that he left the HR manager emailed every one of his staff, customers and clients to tell them that he had been “put on gardening leave” and that “no one should speak to him for legal reasons”. It turns out that this did not actually have any legal basis and that through this act he was prevented from communications about the true reasons for the true reasons termination his employment (restructuring) until after he had agreed a settlement. It has destroyed his reputation in the specialist industry he works in and also in the small local community where we live. What can we do?

Bill 24/03/2018 at 8:32 pm

Hi, I was due to receive a warning due to an accident, the details of the meeting was issued on a generic email, I was last to know is this a breach of the confidentiality act.

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 16/03/2018 at 9:23 am

You would have to speak to your employer directly regarding this matter and try to resolve it informally. Discussing the matter and the reasons why you do not wish to share a room should help. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, then please see the CAB link here for further information.

dave5416 15/03/2018 at 5:16 pm

Can I claim abuse of my human right to privacy if my employer insists I share a hotel room with a co worker.? Im in mid 50’s and dont ferl comfortable with this un written policy. It was never brought up at interview that this practice is company policy when working on a particular account. I am on medication which has embarrassing side effects on want my right to privacy respected.

ErinBV Editor 26/01/2018 at 10:47 am

@Jules - it depends on what the reason your employer gave it to the DVLA was i.e if you have a company car, then the DVLA will want to know who is driving it.

Jules 25/01/2018 at 10:23 am

I believe that my employer gave my name and address to the DVLA without my authority, is this legal?

J man 10/11/2017 at 4:58 pm

A few weeks ago I emailed my HR Advisor to ask how I go about requesting a pay rise, in that email I merely stated a brief overview of why I was wanting one, saying I was over worked and and not paid enough for what I do.

Today I had a meeting to discuss this. I have not discussed this issue with anyone, I merely emailed them asking for some guidance.

I feel they have breached my right to privacy and abused their position of trust. What can I do?

Nicole 25/10/2017 at 1:59 pm

I work for a local council, im front of house, so ideal with the public everyday in person. When a customer gets angry they always ask for a name. (thats fine) but do they need to know our surname. First name i dont mind giving out, but i dont feel comfortable giving out my surname. Ive heard stories of people giving out their surname and next thing, they are being harrassed on social media or followed home etc. If people as for a surname is it a legal requirment for us to give it.

Kellie 15/10/2017 at 4:16 pm

I have just found out my manager is spreading rumours at my work about me.... like telling customers that i am off poorly as im a drunk and much worse things. Its not first time either. My big big boss is not approachable either cause the nasty boss denies it everytime ??

???? 02/08/2017 at 10:55 pm

I've been working for two years with this company and I had some family problems at the time so I had time off I sorted them out and came back to work. For almost a year I've had two people interfere in my personal life and now they have gone to far I'm suspended from work till my hearing on a certain date but my point is the two people in the room was me the manger and deputy manager I've had messages from other colleagues asking me why I've been suspended when I was told it was private and confidential can someone help

Matty 01/08/2017 at 11:31 pm

Can my employer put driver facing cameras in my lorry as i live in all week. Its not just a place of work its my home for the week.

Colgate 24/06/2017 at 10:37 am

Hi, I'm a manager of a dental practice. We have a sister clinic but they are under another limited company. We have same owner but separate accounts. Payroll is done by same company but manager sent payslips of employees from my practice by email to me and to the manager from other clinic asking her about something else not relevant to my payslips. When I said it shouldn't be shared because these are confidential information she replied that other person is also a manager not employee so she doesn't need to put password on the payslips. She is a manager but of different company and clinic. My question is: is she right, I can't demant confidentiality of earning of my employees and mines?
Many thanks.

rossy 09/06/2017 at 1:25 pm

I work for a company A that provides a I.T. managed service to another company B.

Company B has insisted on by date birth information to fill out their HR database in order to gain access to their building's and IT networks. I have said they have no need for this information as I am not directly employed by them and it isn't required to perform my role.

They have basically said they need it else I won't be given the access.
Others in company A are questioning why this information is also being held.
2 questions

1) Am I legally correct in the fact I don't have to supply my date of birth to another company.
2) If another company has my date birth on file can I request it is removed and what can quote to them in terms of the data protection act for them to take it seriously.

Thanks

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 18/05/2017 at 2:30 pm

In the first instance you should complain to your employer about your colleagues actions in order to try to resolve the issue. If you are not satisfied with your employer's response, you will have the option to raise a grievance

Aby 18/05/2017 at 1:24 pm

I am a manager of a small high street store.
Because I was made admin for the shops Facebook page it is unfortunately attached to my own personal Facebook. While trying to rectify this and remove it from my Facebook a colleague and myself used the work laptop. I was unable to remove the work Facebook from my personal account and I made it clear to the company social media expert that I didn't think this was appropriate. A few weeks later and I had four days off for my birthday. While I was off my trainee manager whom I thought I had a great relationship with has opened up my Facebook page on the laptop and gone through my personal messages!! She has then made a complaint about another colleague ( a close friend that works with us but had previously had a strained relationship with the trainee) basically the trainee had gone through my private messages on messenger and seen things she didn't like! Private conversations that occasionally were about her. But apart from that there is a million other private messages! Between myself and my husband, children, family friends etc. I feel violated by this intrusion and don't understand why she did this? What was she looking for?? Is this legal?

DaintyRae 26/04/2017 at 7:35 pm

Hi,

My company has various 'Key Productivity Indicators' for member of the Service Teams only.
The KPI is used to assess Annual Performance Reviews & Salary Increases for Service Personnel only (Management, Admin, Sales, etc not included in this KPI system unique to Service Personnel).
These KPI include sickness / work absences; where both Sickness & Authorised Absences reduce your KPI score.
The KPI league tables are distributed throughout Management, Admin & Service Personnel Colleagues and includes Personnel Name & number of sick / absence days.

Is the publication of private absence days to colleagues an infringement of Privacy At Work & or Data Protection Laws in UK?
Also; is this a fair assessment of Service Personnel; when other colleagues in other departments do not have the 'Absence' black-marked against them in 'UN-PUBLISHED' and UN-CIRCULATED' KPI results?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

Gemgem 24/03/2017 at 6:50 am

My Director of the company lives abroad and manages the IT. I got an email yesterday regarding an article my business will be publishing in a large publication. I replied with changes.
I have just had an email from the director replying to the email that was never went to him telling me of feedback to this article. He has obviously snopped my emails and picked it up !!! He is a sleeping partner of business and only helps with IT and server issues. No other duty. Is this against the Human Rights Act? Before I realise an issue. Thanks!!

Charley 18/03/2017 at 6:50 pm

I told my boss at work that I was pregnant due to working in a hot kitchen and the complications I was having with it. I have now told my friends and it is now public knowledge but i have since found out that before I'd told them my boss had told a mutual friend of ours about my pregnancy. Who doesn't work with us. when I asked my boss why he told someone without my permission and I told him how angry I was he "oh sorry I just had to "and disappeared. Is this a breach of confidently and what can I do about it.

Baby 03/03/2017 at 1:48 pm

Hi, could you please explain what are my rights against my employers that asks me to produce a doctor letter to give me a permit for a doc appointment ? I am ok to show a proof of appointment but this doc is a consultant and I do not want my employer to know what is the problem I am going to the doctor for.I think this is illegal!
Coul you please advise me?

Quickname 09/02/2017 at 5:50 pm

A colleague of mine gave out all of my personal details including working hours and start of employment etc to a stranger who walked into our place of employment. She did not ask for ID of who this person was. She told them and signed a paper then. I did not know about this and did not consent. What are my rights?

CJ 02/02/2017 at 6:38 pm

Hi

I have been offered a job with the council and has been going through their long pre-employment procedure since last year. I declared on my application form and during my interview that I had a cation for Affray and showed my latest DBS which was new. As you know this is a non filterable offence which I have been working with as Practitioner,Teaching Assistant and Support worker since I received it 11 years ago.

Finally my DBS came through and i was called to be asked to do a self disclosure because they dont know what happened. I am livid as this offence does not state that I am barred or a threat to children and they will attach my wording to my file. This is the only offence ever that i have committed. It would have been better if I was a thief, at least that goes away but Affray is a life sentence without bars. I owned up told the truth and was released without court action or a fine.

I feel this is an infringement on my privacy as it not their business to know what happened. This is a very distressing task that they are asking me to do, as it involves my late partner who was killed when I was expecting his child. His case is still open because he was unlawfully killed.

Where do i stand in telling them details which is no concern of theirs, do they have the right to ask me to disclose my private life? I would really appreciate some help as I can find nothing concerning this privacy issue apart from the Human Rights act.

Thank you JC

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 20/01/2017 at 2:16 pm

There is nothing wrong with the employer telling the workforce your friend intends to leave, once notice is given.

Charles 19/01/2017 at 10:06 pm

My friend gave in her notice while off sick for a week signed off by dr. The manager has then told the whole of the work place about this. Is this aloud? I assumed it was her own choice to tell her co-workers or not

Leo 18/01/2017 at 4:31 pm

Can employers legally access ex-employees drop box on their work emails or should they delete that email account straight away?

Zeemex 24/11/2016 at 3:21 pm

I left my place of work less than 3 weeks ago today, and have found out today that they have not only opened but EMPTIED my locker (to which I still hold the key) and threw away all the contents, and anything that wasn't thrown away was left out for pickings by other employees.

Contents included but not limited to: Personal belongings, personal stationary, bank statement, film memorabilia (my property) (the place of work is a cinema).

I was not informed at any point that this was pending or had even been done, a (former) colleague messaged me today about it. No permission was asked from me for this to be done. No request to come and empty the locker myself so they can use it.

Is there any legal action I can take? The place has always had a habit of acting as if the law doesn't apply there. The main concern is the memorabilia that I had, as I had kept it for a reason, and the bank statement as I know for certain that they would not have destroyed it, only threw it in the bin.

mr dog 17/11/2016 at 4:43 pm

55 of us were told yesterday that we may all be made redundant - and this morning paperwork adrressed to each employee was left openly on display on all desks - not in an envelope.

marked 'strictly private and confidential' it clearly showed a standard letter - but also each employees full address .. surely this is a breach of data protection ? i did not ask foir my details to effectively be put on view.

any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

petal 27/10/2016 at 7:08 pm

i recently had an disciplinary and the files of it were left in view of all staff I contacted the boss and told him and he said he would remove them in the morning.(I put them in a secret place he told me to put them). when I came in the next day they were still in the same place and it looked like someone had found them as they weren't as I put them. surely this is not on.

Jord 20/10/2016 at 6:56 am

I would like info on when working away for home. is it against your human weights to be made to share a room in the hotel . Or should you have your own .

G 05/10/2016 at 6:45 am

My company has recently installed 2 cameras in the canteen and I feel like it's invading my privacy while I eat and drink. Are they allowed to do this? And I think they are adding a 3rd camera soon

Anonymous 27/09/2016 at 8:33 pm

Hi, I recently had time off work sick,whilst I was off I received text messages from a number of colleagues asking if I had taken the spare key to my office(they keep a spare key but misplaced it),one male colleague asking for it said in their text that they were on their way to my house to collect it,since I was quite ill and asleep I did not read the message for a few hours but when I replied they had found their key and one replied to me saying"hope you enjoyed your long weekend"I was upset with this comment but did not give it any further thought as I got on with this colleague.When I returned to work a dif colleague told me that they had been to my house &my husbands van was not there & that because of this they thought I was surfing with my husband &they were going to text me and tell me they had been to my home &saw the van not there.this is my husbands company vehicle that he uses everyday for work,this is upsetting as i do not understand how they can reason that I was not there when my car was.Later on in the day the director calls me up to his office where I find my line manager also.They talk to me about my sickness &asked if I was okay(I've had 12days off in 9months but hardly any days the years before).They then tell me that some colleagues are saying that I was not sick &that I was "pulling the lead" &that someone has said to them something about me regarding this but my manager told me he stepped in &said to them that they don't know anything for a fact.they told me that this is not what they think but as it is a small company they wanted to nip it in the Budd so it does not escalate.The director said that this is not a warning but he has to say for legal purposes that it is sackable to take time off when you are not Ill.but left it that if I am sick again to go to my doctors &get a sick note.They were both nice to me but this then led them to talk to me about my punctuality(I have been 5mins late a couple of times the week before)which I said I would improve on.I feel really upset about this &it has given me sleepless nights.I am upset that not only is someone coming to my house invading my privacy,that if I am ever to be off work on another occasion I don't want to have a male colleague coming to my home when I am female on my own,I don't feel safe or comfortable with that but I also feel extremely upset that someone has accused me of taking time off when I am not sick with no facts or evidence causing me to be brought into a meeting which made me very stressed.I feel that everyone has been talking about it as we are a small company &even though I have done nothing wrong It is upsetting that someone can stir up lies about me that are not true which could jeopardise my job &they could do it again in the future.The director &my line manager did not say who it was that had accused me I am worried about asking,should I ask?i am naturally going to try &avoid taking any more time off when I am sick & to try and not give cause for a

anonamus 12/09/2016 at 2:31 pm

my company is introducing a lone working device that is to be monitored by an independent company, however my employer has access to this and can monitor our precise location at anytime of the day or night & has the ability to listen to conversations via the device, Is it legal for him to use it as a tracking device as he is effectively tracking an individual and not a company vehicle.

Fifi 07/09/2016 at 10:50 pm

I have just discovered that all my personal details including previous name, dob, address, phone number and NI number plus lots of other info such as name of my partner and children has been uploaded onto a new system in work in which every other employee has access to. ( I also have access to theirs) Is this legal and more to the point being such sensitive information, is it safe? Really need advice on this one if anyone can help.

Sherry 13/05/2016 at 12:02 pm

CCTV has been installed on my section where I work, and there is a tv showing me working for other members of staff to see? I feel like I'm in a zoo? Is this correcf

Muie 01/04/2016 at 3:30 am

Hi. My employer searched my bag without my consent while i was in hospital getting treatment for an accident that happend at work. I gope there is somethingi can do about it as i see it as an very low thing to do. Thank you

Dubois 18/06/2015 at 12:24 pm

My husband was badly bullied/harassed at work (by the Director) for almost a year. He began to keep a note of key incidents (times/dates/description) of incidents of harassment he suffered. He wrote these notes in his own personal notebook (private property which he bought himself) which he kept hidden in a desk drawer in his office. He did not share the office so nobody saw him do this, and he did not tell any colleagues that he was doing this. He was about to lodge a formal grievance when he was suddenly sacked without warning, notice or cause. He asked for a large box to take all his personal property home with him after being sacked. He was told he could not have one but that he could take as many items as he could carry in his hands and they would courier everything else to him the next day. He grabbed what he could carry in his hands from his desk but when he got home he realised his private notebooks had not been in the drawer (this did not occur to him straight away as he was in such a profound state of shock at being sacked for no reason). Clearly the boss must have ransacked his desk and found the notebooks, realised he was compiling details of her harassment of him and decided to take the books and get rid of him before he could raise a grievance. He asked repeatedly (in writing) for the return of the notebooks for the next five weeks, and eventually they were returned to him with the notes all torn out (they were spiral bound books so it was easy to tear pages out). The company's written policy states that if they want to search an employee's personal property they must ask first, and if the employee refuses, then the company has to get the police to do the search. Nobody ever sought his permission, so the Director had no right to go through his stuff, let alone confiscate it. So my question is, what law(s) - if any - did the employer breach by covertly searching his personal property without permission, and what law(s) if any did they breach by retaining his personal property after dismissing him, and what law(s) if any did they breach by tearing out and retaining or destroying pages from his personal, private notebook (obviously they deny doing that, but they would say that, wouldn't they?!).

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 21/01/2015 at 12:46 pm

@Julie - this is a very difficult question to fathom, so I suggest, rather than get the wrong end of the stick and give misleading advice, that you contact Acas directly and talk through your issue. You can contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 for free, confidential advice.

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 27/11/2014 at 12:34 pm

@Hev - Information gathered by an employer should be covered by the Data Protection Act and as a rule employers shoudl be told that they are being monitored, whether individually or as a company. However, according to Acas, monitoring should go no further than is necessary and it is only in exceptional circumstances that an employer should use covert monitoring. If you think your employer is monitoring you secretly then it may be worth giving Acas a call on 0300 123 1100, it has a free advice helpline.

hev 26/11/2014 at 10:04 pm

Can my employer access the computer to check the swipe card systems that gives me access to various buildings I work in to check where I am, how log I take etc to do the job etc etc or yet to checkup on me to see where I have been. Can my supervise plant items i n my cleaning storeto check if iI'm doing my job properly or even using the said item.

mobilityman 20/09/2014 at 11:44 pm

ive recently been suspended from work for setting up a competing business ( the reasons for this are,
1) no support from management
2) they are selling second hand mobility scooters as new
3) aggressive towards me and my staffing needs
4)no pay rise in 4 years)

when they suspended me, the md immediately emailed and sent a text to all members of staff saying i was suspended till further notice and i was not to be communicated with.
Is this a breach of confidentiality?
Ive just found out that they have been through my company phone and laptop wiyhout my express permission and have been through my personal pictures and dropbox and personal email account.
Is this a breach of privacy?
my role is to manage staff, manage stock and process warranty returns.the pictures ive seen they have copied have been of parts that have been marked for stock/returns or training purposes for other staff. im concerned that these will be misconstrued and used against me , where do i stand with regards to my rights.

eagleed 11/05/2013 at 8:58 pm

I sent private messages to a work colleague thro a social media site. We have since fallen out and he has printed my messages for my boss to read. One comment in peticullar was not very flattering about the m,d. My manager then took my messages and showed them to the rest of the board of directors. Has both my colleague and manager broken any privacy laws?

LB 17/10/2011 at 6:24 pm

I have recently found out that a non HR employee has had access to emails between myself and an ex employee which were non work related, but have now become common knowledge around the office. As I am now the subject of office gossip, I feel there is no other option but for me to resign.

Do I have any comeback with the way I have been treated?
Regards

jacqueline merry 29/07/2011 at 12:03 am

What can you do if your boss is telling your workmates personal things about your self or that of other workmates business, esp regarding financial situations in where i was told by my boss that one of my work mates and told who, had asked them for a loan of a substantial amount of money to help her out? this is just one instance. My boss is forever telling me stuff about other workmates, and she tells others things too, isnt this a confidentiality issue? I did speak to my boss on the phone about this and she just said ive got to go and hung up. I was told that i had to make a proper complaint if i wanted to take it further, and it could not be hearsay, and must be fact. Thing is the boss is actually married to the big boss, so its quite difficult. Whats the best way to rectify this situation? I have already stopped her in her tracks one day when telling me something about another work mate by saying "thats not very nice is it?" seemed to work on that one occassion, but she just cant seem to help herself. She is very sly the way she does it too, as she always does it when its just the two of you, never in front of anyone else, and i know for a fact she has done it with others in the workplace as they have mentioned it to me too. This has to stop, its not right, and isnt everyone entitled to privacy? Also if a work mate has done something wrong, is it not the proper professional thing to talk to them in person about it? This is another thing the boss does, talks and tells all the other work staff about it which is humiliating to the person involved. Please can you advise? thanks

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