What are my rights if I called in sick last week with a doctor’s note and when I returned to work this week I found out that my boss shared my message with co-workers?
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What are my rights if I called in sick last week with a doctor’s note and when I returned to work this week I found out that my boss shared my message with co-workers?
I am horrified and now feel like people are laughing about it. Can I sue?
Asked on January 25, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Ohio
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
What your boss did was profoundly unprofessional; unfortunately, unprofessional is not the same as illegal. If there was no agreement made between you and the boss or the company to keep the information confidential, then he could legally share it; and if the information was factually true, it is not defamation. Also, the law does not provide compensation generally "just" for being embarrased. In short, this is not the sort of thing which one can generally sue over.
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