Question:
Privacy Issues

I have available to me at work short term disability that will cover my wages for me while I am recovering from surgery, but I have to have it approved. Other than a doctor stating that I am going to have surgery, legally can they make me tell them what type of surgery I am having? Although this information should be kept confidential, My human resources person has a big mouth and I dont want or need the world to know what I am doing.    — Diane Rhoads (posted on November 29, 2001)

November 29, 2001
I got a letter from my surgeon stating that I was having major abdominal surgery and I would need to be off work for appoximately 6 weeks. That was all the letter said. Your employer does not have the right to know exactly what type of surgery you are having. Neither my boss nor HR asked. If they had, I was prepared to say something like "Thank you for your concern, but I prefer not to discuss it".
   — Gina E.

November 29, 2001
when i worked for the postal service they were not allowed to ask what was wrong with u when u called in sick. so i imagine they cant ask for a surgery diagnosis either. i believe this is a federal labor law that covers all industries.
   — sheryl titone

November 29, 2001
I was worried about the same thing when I went on short term disability. My benefits administrator has a HUGE mouth and is a known gossip. I called the company who administers the short-term disability (they did have to know why I was going to be out so they'd approve it) and asked them if my ben. administrator asked them what I was having, would they tell her, and they said absolutely not...it's against the law. I don't know about your job having to know though... All I had to do was have it approved by the disability benefits administrator and it was automatically approved through my job.
   — [Anonymous]