Medical Malpractice

Is there a NY law against a manager telling the office the specific medical reason I was absent from work?

My manager told my specific medical emergency to the receptionist, who in turn told the rest of the office. Does the New York State Dept of Labor have laws to protect my privacy and what will they do in this situation?

Public Comments

1. I would assume that there are certain provacy laws that should be in place call the labour board and inquire with them
2. I'm not sure. But you were under no obligation to tell your manager in the first place. All you have to do is provide a medical certificate. Your medical problems are between you and your doctor.
3. No. What your manager did was not break a legal bond of confidentiality. Your manager broke an ethical bond of confidentiality. Unfortunately there is no laws against being unethical.
4. Damn right you have rights. Legally, you don't even have to tell your manager the specific medical reason, remember that in the future. I think you have a case of confidentiality on your hands. It is your supervisors job to listen and not repeat. First step, whoever is above your manager is who you go to. Follow the proper chain of command, to see if it could be resolved. If it was an embarrassing situation, I would expect an apology. The receptionist should be knocked on her ass....but that's just me.
5. there is a federal law that applies; HIPPA; see this link, copy for your supervisior and have a meeting. and contact you state EEOC and file a complaint. this is outrageous behavior. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/bkgrnd.html
6. HiPPAA doesn't apply here - that is for informatin kept about you by your health service providers. What you tell someone else is fair game - if you don't want people to know, then don't tell them, if you want them to keep it secret, get a carefully worded contract that obliges them to keep things confidential. Let it be a lessen learned.