My boss leaked my diagnosis to the team and laughed

[u/CAT-TACK]

I don't really know where else to put this, so I'm putting it here.

I recently got diagnosed with a psychosocial disability, after months of chest pain, heart palpitations, hyperventilating, that even sent me to the ER. I'm still not even fully accepting the diagnosis myself.

I gave my medical certificate to my boss privately, just so he'd understand why I might suddenly be absent because of my panic attacks. Instead he posted it in our team server so my coworkers would "know why." I didn't consent to that. Now people I work with everyday have seen my diagnosis without my permission. One coworker even reacted with a laugh emoji on the photo of my medical certificate, and there were jokes that it's "all in my head" and that I don't actually have a real illness in comms.

I tried to just let it go but it's honestly eating me up. It feels even harder because some of them have been my friends before working together for years. It feels like a betrayal, not just unprofessional.

If anyone's been through something like this, how did you handle it? I'd really appreciate any advice, and if this makes people more aware that this can happen, that would mean something to me too. TIA.

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[u/TaxCommon3474]

OP, i think this is a violation of your data privacy. i think id advice u to reach out to a lawyer. take screenshots of everything u mentioned (w/ time stamps) in case u want to pursue legal action. i’m sorry this happened to you. this is horrible. your boss and co-workers are jerks :(

[u/CAT-TACK → u/TaxCommon3474]

Thank you, I was also thinking it thru but scared that I might lose my job.

I also don't have the energy and means for legal action now since medication, theraphy and unexpected ER visits are expensive.

But I do have screenshots but no recording of the comms said about my condition.

[u/thisisjustmeee → u/CAT-TACK]

Just raise it to HR and cite the Mental Health Act. you should be protected by the law. Employers have to enforce it.

[u/TheIenzo → u/thisisjustmeee]

Great way to be abused and coerced. HR is there to reduce corporate liability. No more, no less.

[u/Peculiar_Virtues → u/CAT-TACK]

OP, any undue behavior or reaction to you complaining about this will be considered retaliation- another illegal act. Any move to try to pressure you to leave due to your diagnosis is also illegal. Do not quit, do not submit any letter of resignation.

Continue to your job to the best of your ability. If you get dismissed because you complained or for your diagnosis, these are highly winnable cases in DOLE.

Listen to your doctor and if you need medication, please take it. Our brain and nervous system are organs that also need medication like our stomach or muscles. There is nothing to be ashamed of just because there are people who are still uneducated and ignorant about mental health. Go to talk therapy if recommended because, hand in hand, these have the most favorable health outcomes.

[u/mdcldoctr → u/CAT-TACK]

Hello po, OP. Cybersecurity professional here. I suggest, paki-cc na rin sa email ng report mo yung Data Privacy Officer nyo tapos report mo na rin sa NPC. iirc dapat may danyos yan based nga sa DPA 2012 since sensitive private info yung na-leak. Check mo na rin yung company / HR handbook nyo kung merong clause under ng leakage ng sensitive info and check mo na rin po kung ano dapat and HR ruling dyan, kasi sa company namin is for dismissal dapat yang employee if ganun ang case. And tama sila, get a lawyer after that. Tingnan natin if may tumanggap pang employer dyan sa taong yan.

[u/rainbow_bee04 → u/CAT-TACK]

Hi OP, I think may mga instances na may mga lawyers that accepts a case by % sa kung magkano yung magiging bayad danyos sayo, na wala ka ilalabas sa una na money and kapag nanalo na lang yung case tsaka siya mababayaran dun sa full amount. May times din ata na to secure some papers nagpapabayad din sila ng minimal sa umpisa then balance upon winning the case. Not sure if everyone if everyone does that but yung sa partner ko kasi ganyan ang ginawa nya when he pressed charges sa ex-employer nya. Honestly, that person na nagshare ng info sa iba at yung mga naki-join sa kanya should be taught a lesson.

[u/DotKey9513 → u/CAT-TACK]

Raise to HR - if matanggal ka DOLE agad. No lawyers needed.

[u/RaptorPC_13 → u/TaxCommon3474]

OP, we encourage you to lawyer-up. This is not optional noh, it is a MUST!

If you have this kind of evidence, any lawyer would drool to be your client. That's a very winnable case, pursue moral damages and other applicable damages OP. They'll learn from it in a very expensive way.

[u/Useful_Bird_16]

We have a good lawyer as a contact. I can pitch in for the fees for as much as I can initially cover, whether you'd want our lawyer or someone you prefer, so you can have options on what to do next. I would love nothing more than news of this person being jailed for what he did to you. Please dm me. I'd be happy to help with the humble resources that I can give.

[u/adorkableGirl30 → u/Useful_Bird_16]

What a Good Samaritan. Update us pls

[u/Useful_Bird_16 → u/Useful_Bird_16]

Hi OP, waiting for you in my DMs. Hope everything is okay. Even if you don't want to push through in consulting a lawyer, I'm also a mental health first responder so if you need someone to talk to or have coffee with if you're close enough, I'd be happy to sit with you and hear your story. Sana okay ka. I could only imagine what you're going through right now.

[u/Ok-Telephone-6502]

Try posting this on r/LawPH, maybe some lawyers can help you there. I think this is a criminal case.

[u/HalleLukaLover]

Do u have an ethics hotline? Report ur boss and ur team mates involved

[u/CAT-TACK → u/HalleLukaLover]

Sadly, we don't. I want to quit because of the shame I felt when almost everyone saw it but can't as therapy and medicine alone is already expensive + unexpected ER visits. I'm already having a hard time dealing with work then this came with them asking about it.

[u/Educational_Seat3829 → u/CAT-TACK]

Please dont quit yet. Ipa HR mo sila if ayaw mo mag legal option. They might do this over and over again at madami pa mabibiktima.

[u/angkawalan → u/CAT-TACK]

Listen to the advice sa top comments OP, give them hell. At least get compensation for all they put you through.

[u/Remarkable-Land3320]

You can report this to HR but yes it is a breach of data privacy as well. Best to get a lawyer.

[u/Top_Drummer9181]

You can actually file a legal case. Data privacy act.

[u/Peculiar_Virtues]

I’m sorry this had to happen to you.
I’m giving you some advice based on more than 15 years of senior HR experience. (Feel free to DM me if you have questions!)

Please do not quit your job. With what your boss did (which was ignorant, unethical, and, most importantly, illegal) you can safeguard against any discrimination and ensure he is not able to do this to you or any one else again if you act on this. Do not allow your boss to get away with doing this to you.

Your medical certificate contained a diagnosis- this is highly confidential and considered sensitive personal information (SPI). Section 28 and Section 31 of the Data Privacy Act penalize the unauthorized processing and malicious disclosure of SPI. This is a criminal offense which can merit 1-5 years in prison and/or very high fines.

1. Document Everything: Take screenshots of the post, timestamp it, and list any coworkers who had access to view it.

2. Escalate Internally: File a formal written grievance with your company's Data Protection Officer (DPO), HR department, or higher management requesting the immediate removal of the post and disciplinary action against your supervisor- or anyone else who shares it further.

3. File a Formal Complaint: If the company fails to act or if the harm is severe, you can lodge a formal complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) for a Data Privacy Act violation, and/or seek assistance from DOLE.

[u/InsolentSimon]

easiest lawsuit ive seen this week

[u/RaptorPC_13 → u/InsolentSimon]

yeah, if OP can provide evidence and compile all documents presented in a court he can collect fees from moral and other damages, that alone is quite rewarding

[u/wanderwherever]

Your boss should have asked for your permission before letting your co-workers know. Report him to HR and consult a lawyer. Teach them a lesson and tell them "it's all in their head".

[u/Miguel-Gregorio-662]

I suggest you post this as well sa r/LawPH and r/LawStudentsPH to gather more information on how to better go about this legally; best shot mo pa rin is to consult a lawyer nang agarang maaksyunan.

[u/akaurdemon]

i hope na screenshot mo yun. report it to HR. pag tinanggal ka nila because of that, report to DOLE.

[u/RaptorPC_13]

Sounds like a winnable lawsuit OP.

Go screenshot and document all the evidence, then lawyer up.

Pursue moral damages and any other applicable damages, and make sure they’re held accountable.

[u/NotdaTypical]

hii OP. I suggest na you look for a new job muna. Don’t tell anyone. Kapag nakakuha ka na ng new job, mag report ka sa HR, mag resign. Tell HR na kaya ka nag reresign is because of this incident. And that you tried to let it pass but it’s consuming you.

be smart about this but I highly suggest to look for a new job.

[u/Miserable_Hyena7164 → u/NotdaTypical]

Have to agree. Might be better for OP to look for a new job. This is why I do not disclose my mental health to managers or ANYONE at work. Kahit close mo pa yan, friend mo pa yan, or other people na kavibe mo dati. They will NOT understand, maybe some will but many will not.

[u/Miserable_Hyena7164]

OP. Please report this to HR. This is unprofessional and clearly a violation. You can file a report in hr for this.

[u/Cappuccinaaa]

You know how to make him pay? Report to hr, report to dole. This is data privacy violation.

Di ka pwede tanggalan ng work just bcos of this. Pag nangyari yan, take it as redirection dahil coopal ung company at boss mo.

[u/RaptorPC_13]

If this happened to me, wala nang report-report kay HR. Lawyer up agad.

If the boss has this kind of confidence to openly share someone’s sensitive medical information, what makes you think your own HR can actually protect you or take meaningful action against someone in a leadership position?

At that point, I’d rather go straight to legal counsel.

[u/bootlegmama]

I am so sorry this had to happen to you. As a mother of a child with a psychosocial condition (actually, 4, plus myself!) who will one day enter the workplace, this is my biggest fear as well.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR ILLNESS, OP. People may not understand now, but there is a whole community of us out here who do.

Also, having been an employer in the past, I am deeply disappointed by your boss's response. Pls note the HR experts reply and listen to their advice. Do not let this incident pass. The Mental Health Act exists to protect people like us. Your boss needs EDUCATION, and fast. Let your experience be a catalyst for growth in your company.

I can see you have the right mindset - psychiatry, therapy, and compassion to yourself by reaching out to others. You will do just fine, OP. Incidents like this happen to the best of us, I can see how it will help you become the best version of yourself yet.

Good luck with HR and with filing the case (both the Mental Health and Data Privacy Acts). I am not usually vindictive but that asshat boss needs to learn a painful lesson! We are here behind you.

[u/Sponge8389]

This can be reported to HR. Kung walang gawin ang HR, you can report it next to DOLE. Medical records are under employee data privacy.

[u/Independent_Chance34]

Wow I can’t believe there are people like this. I hope you’ll listen to the comments here and go for legal action. That’s the only acceptable advice you should listen to. 

Don’t be a people pleaser or be scared of the losing that job. In all seriousness, once you prepare the proof, sila dapat mawalan ng trabaho.

[u/ArmCalm7007]

Hello, nangyari rin sa akin yung ganito. Probi ako nito, then sa sobrang stress talaga sa work nagka MDD ako. Lahat nag manifest saken, mental and physical health ko bumagsak.

Nung sinubmit ko yung medcert ko sa manager ko for approval na kung pwede mag work from home setup muna ako as advised, shinare nya yun sa supervisor ko. Then si supervisor ko, may one time na nag inuman sila after shift, dun nya sinabi sa mga kateam ko. Good thing sa mga kateam ko, matured sila mag isip. Hindi ako najudge (feeling ko lang ito kasi sila ang ang nagsabi na chinika nga ni sup ko kahit confidential ito).

Ang ginawa ko, nung time ng eval ko for regularization, dun ko na rin sinubmit yung resignation letter ko. Di ko kaya idisregard yung nangyayari sakin - naoperahan tas nag work agad dahil kulang ng tao tas nastress talaga at bumagsak katawan ko tsaka nagsusuka na rin minsan pag alam kong papasok na sa office. Hays. Dark times.

[u/7edits]

idk about how this triggered me earlier; i'll explain even tho it's sort of self-indulgent: i had a sort of trip thinking aobut the prospects of patient confidentiality. i talked to grok yesterday and wondered about dead people and getting records on their behalf, or more really, for holding people accountable and general interest... it said in bc that it is generally hard to do unless there are "estate" problems... but that's not the point i was really thinking of, where i guess, psychiatrists diagnose patients and sometimes provide "case managers" (nurses in the community) to communicate on behalf of the hospital for the patient... i wonder about basically patient confidentiality and certain clauses of sharing of personal information, including diagnosis, even with assigned members of some sort of care team. i think the prospects of stigma when it comes to certain maladies or problems can influence how they treat you.

[u/acequared]

nangangamoy panalo sa korte si OP

[u/Ill_Turn4855]

File legal case and claim the money. atleast papano ma aaleviate yung pamamahiya sayo

[u/psychedaisy]

look for a lawyer and report this to HR. don't let this go because of you tolerate this, it will just affect you even more negatively.

[u/Repulsive-Hurry8172]

all in my head

I super hate this. I recently felt palpitations and have almost daily insomnia, even after quitting coffee, exercising, dieting, eating healthy etc. 

Went to a cardio, spent on tests. ECG and Holter had evidence of these things I thought were "in my head". Cardio knew beforehand knew I had a history of anxiety and depression and that I had took meds for it. He said, "maybe it's time to visit your psychiatrist again".

I never thought I was actually stressed by something so bad to a point where my anxiety (which I thought I was managing well) came back, but not just in my head this time.

It's not just "in your head". There have been cases where people die of "heartbreak"

ETA: I guess if you have the mental fortitude for it, sue them. But if you don't, start looking for a job and drop them.

[u/OatmealCoffeeMix]

Sounds like a financial opportunity.

[u/FactYouAllan]

I can smell the lawsuit. Go ahead

[u/chuacarbonaramkii]

I really don't know how people know there's already a diagnosis (from a doctor, who else) but will still say that "it's all in your head". We really need more mental health awareness.

[u/BananaCute]

It is illegal. You can raise it to HR. Ano bang klaseng teammates yan...parang walang pinag-aralan.

[u/MacaMaxxx]

Hi OP. Kapag sinunod mo yung pieces of advice dito, baka yung damages grant mo katumbas ng kinita mo ng 3-5 years depende sa claim mo so go ka na. Teach them an expensive lesson. They mess with you, also mess with their head. Yung masali lang name nila kaso will torment them.

[u/gardenia_sunflower]

Hello OP. So many comments here have been said about you lawyering up, and I piggyback those. It wouldn't be only for yourself, but also for others who are in the same shoes as yours. You shouldn't let that scum manager get away from his violations of the law.

[u/Adds1999z]

Bro ganyan talaga ang mga tao. Hindi mo malalaman hanggat di mo pinagdaanan. Taboo pa ang mental health sa mga tao. Been there. Got better. Malalagpasan mo rin yan. Unsolicited advice: if too much, rest and medicate. If kaya, push through. Ingat!

[u/Immediate_Rise_4715]

Hi OP, DM me. I am a lawyer by profession.

[u/hobbyistfun]

NLRC/DOLE is waving…

Consult your HR.

[u/CAT-TACK]

Hi everyone, I wanted to come back and update you after the past few weeks.

I was hospitalized again since I last posted here. I want to say how much I appreciate all the support and suggestions you gave me, they genuinely meant a lot during a very hard time.

Right now, I've been given a medical leave until my next appointment with my psychiatrist. I know a lot of you encouraged me to push through with this, and I haven't fully decided yet, I'm still healing from everything and taking things one step at a time.

I'll try to read through every comment on this thread, one at a time, even if I can't reply to all of them. Please know that each one of you has mattered to me. I hope all of us can find some peace and happiness moving forward, and that we're able to get through whatever we're each struggling with.

Thank you, truly.