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January 2016 Moms
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Telling Work - Privacy Laws?

l4rkl4rk member
in January 2016 Moms
Hello everyone! I'm trying to decide when to tell my employer about my pregnancy.

On one hand, I run a department, and I think the advance notice would be beneficial. It would allow me to properly prepare the team for my absence but it would also finally explain to my boss and HR why I'm hiring so many new staff and so fixated on strengthening the department. 

But on the other hand, my actual boss--the CEO--is downright TERRIBLE at keeping secrets and leaks sensitive personnel information ALL THE TIME to random people. He will do this thing where he thinks he's being vague, like "the department lead who's pregnant", but through the process of elimination (and a few gossipy text messages), everyone figures out what or who he's talking about within hours. He's notorious for leaking all sorts of information (and then later being appalled that info was leaked, but that's a story for another day.)

I'm very private and my company just isn't. Aside from my CEO, the company is also full of loose lipped 20-somethings who love to talk shit and stir up drama, and I don't want to be the subject of their water cooler whispers for as long as possible. Preferably never, but I'll be realistic that they do eventually have to know.

I don't trust the HR department not to tell my boss, and I don't trust him not to tell everyone--unless they are legally obligated not to. Does anyone know what the rules are? I'm in Canada, but I'm curious to know what the rules are in other places too. Is anyone else in a similar situation?
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Re: Telling Work - Privacy Laws?

  • MamabeagleMamabeagle member
    Someone just started one of these! Sorry if yours was first!
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  • l4rkl4rk member
    @Mamabeagle, oh sweet! Where is it? I did a search and could only find posts about "when to tell work" but couldn't find anything on whether your boss is allowed to blab...!
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  • MamabeagleMamabeagle member
    I am the biggest b* in the world. I only read your first sentence, I completely apologize!

    HR in California cannot share anything with management, and I would imagine Canada is pretty progressive on these social issues.
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  • l4rkl4rk member
    Ahaaha, no worries! Hmm, I didn't consider looking up whether HR has to keep it confidential. I will try researching that one now... thanks!
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  • winnie1122winnie1122 member
    I feel like there have to be major privacy laws there. I've always been under the impression that HR has quite a responsibility of confidentiality, even from CEOs.
    Married 6/1/13
    BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
    BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
    BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
    BFP #4  4/2015 MC 7/1/15
    BFP #5 10/21/15  EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow! 
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  • l4rkl4rk member
    I used to think that about HR too. But I've since learned that they work for the company, not the employees, and they don't actually have to keep much confidential. People put too much trust in HR. I think it's company policy that determines how these things are handled rather than actual law. I've been researching this all night and I'm not finding much that actually protects our privacy once we disclose the info...
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  • PreggoInTheCityPreggoInTheCity member
    Do you have a company handbook? Perhaps confidentiality is explained in there? Good luck!
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  • claireloSCclaireloSC member
    I think in the case of innapropriate behavior or something, that would be kept confidential. Since this is basically just asking for leave, I am fairly certain they would go straight to your boss and probably the CEO too.
    Baby Birthday Ticker TickerMarried DW <3 08.2013; AI 2x; IUI 6x; IUI #7 05.2015; DD born 2.2016 o:); Reciprocal IVF FET #1 on 11.18.2020 
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  • Anna.acbAnna.acb member
    In my experience, HR departments tend to be the worst when it comes to gossip. They do tend to tell management everything because at the end of the day management will support them in a he said/she said situation and wouldn't own up to where they got the information. I wouldn't trust them.
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  • SummerOHSummerOH member
    I wouldn't share anything until past first tri.  6 months is plenty of time for them to plan.

    DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015


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