Can my current/previous employer divulge personal and/or romantic details to anyone other than myself?
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Can my current/previous employer divulge personal and/or romantic details to anyone other than myself?
My lady’s father recently called my previous employer. They gave him the details of my firing. They also told him about the person I was dating while working there. My employer never informed me that I was fired. I found out after my lady’s father called them. I don’t know if he gave them a false name or if he was upfront with them. I only know that they let him know I was fired, the reason for it, and that I was dating someone during my time there. Are there any legal actions I may be able to take?
Asked on July 5, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Illinois
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Unless this communication violated an employment contract, union agreement or some non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement, you had no right to privacy regarding the circumstances of your dismissal. Aso, if your treatment constituted some form of legally actionable discrimination, that would be illegal. Your only claim here would be if the information disclosed was untrue. Then in that case, and depending on the other facts of your situation, you would potentially have a claim for defamation.
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