Did my supervisor break confidentiality?

November 9, 2005 8:57 PM

Did my supervisor break confidentiality?

A month ago, I applied for a new position within my job, which did not go over to well on my team. After I applied, I got in trouble for using the internet more than I should have. After I proved the amount of work I accomplished went beyond what would have been normally expected out of a person, I was told by an apologetic HR person and a higher up that they just had to follow policy and they appreciated the work I have been doing. They also mentioned that everything in that meeting was confidential.

While meeting with my supervisor today, she asked me about this. I was surprised she knew because they stressed that everything that was spoken about in that meeting was confidential. Did my previous supervisor break confidentiality? And if so, who should I talk to? My new supervisor then HR? Or just to HR person who was in that meeting?

I am more than embarrassed about this because I love my job and think of it as my career. While I went out of my way to not blame my supervisor for being the reason why I left, this is one of the reasons why.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (5 answers total)

The fact that disciplinary action took place is probably a matter of record within HR and HR is not there to hide this kind of information from people in the company who might learn something useful by it.

What you said within those 4 walls during that meeting may have been confidential but this is just another way of saying that they won't hang you on anything you, yourself say. Kind of like letting you know that they're not trying to bait you into self-incrimination.

Have you been quoted on anything you said during that meeting? No? Then what you said within that meeting remains confidential. That doesn't mean that your internet-oversue will be completely swept under the rug forever in the eyes of the company. See the difference, here?
posted by scarabic at 10:03 PM on November 9, 2005

Unless this really bothers you, it may not be wise to draw too much attention to this, seeing as how it started with a transgression on your part.
posted by Krrrlson at 10:31 PM on November 9, 2005

I would let it lie. At HR they may simply have forgotten to provide you with the caveat that your supervisor has access to your record as a matter of course. They probably meant that the meeting would not be discussed with colleagues.
posted by OmieWise at 5:32 AM on November 10, 2005

Did you ask the present supervisor where she found out? That might be a good place to start.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:39 AM on November 10, 2005

Oh, and by the way, "confidential" and "privileged" are very different things. Your conversation with someone could be confidential, but perfectly proprietary within the company. Your personnel records could reflect the event and that information would be perfectly accessible within the company for people such as your supervisor.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:42 AM on November 10, 2005