Need advice before going to HR

[myprincess1120]

I have been with my current employer for about six months now. I constantly have confidentiality issues with my manager. A few months ago, I received a call from a pharmacy that took my name down and found that another employee had called in a prescription for herself using a Dr's license number that had not been present in our office that day. The pharmacy called to confirm the prescription and I could not. In fear of them calling back and speaking with the manager, I went and privately explained the situation to my manager letting her know I also did not want anyone else to get in trouble, but I also did not want to get in trouble for covering for someone else. She then proceeded to call the regional manager. The employee in question met with the regional a few days later, but I did not know the outcome. A few months later, I find that my manager, who I went and trusted to keep my name confidential not only told this other employee that it was I who got the call from the pharmacy, but she also lied and told her I was the one who called the regional and almost got her fired. Not only did she lie, but she took advantage to use my name and blame me for getting another employee almost fired. This created a lot of animosity between the employees, not to mention me getting harrassed by the manager because of the other employee complaining about me every chance she got. This is not the only time my manager has broken confidentiality. In another instance, I asked for a raise. I was denied, a little upset, but I understood and accepted it. Nobody else knew of me asking for a raise because this was personal information and I did not share it with anyone else. I found out a week later that my manager went to the other employees and told them I had asked for a raise and the exact amount I was requesting. I feel very uncomfortable in my workplace and continue to bear with these situations, but I wish there was someone I could go to to make a complaint. Can I trust my HR department to protect my privacy and not break confidentiality? Please help!

 

[cbg]

You are operating under a common misunderstanding - that you are entitled to complete confidentiality and that HR or management cannot break it.

That is simply not true, and it is not possible. There is no possible way for HR to do their jobs while still maintaining 100% confidentiality. It would be tying their hands, for example, to expect them to be able to conduct an investigation into a discrimination or harassment complaint without ever using the name of the person who complained.

The simple fact of the matter is, with the exception of some, but not all, medical information, you do not have a guaranteed right of confidentiality in the workplace. I'm not defending the manager's actions but neither can I promise you that HR will be able to keep your name out of it, either. They won't go out of their way to release your name but they can't offer you an out and out promise that they won't, either.