Is it illegal for an employee to give out a co-worker's home phone number?

Question

A woman who used to work in my office recently called trying to get a list our employees' personal phone numbers, and since I was friendly with her while she was here my boss just came over to make sure I knew not to give it to her. My boss told me it was illegal for me to give out the numbers, but the way she said it felt more like a scare tactic than the truth.

It's immoral, stupid, and an action for which I would fully expect to be fired, sure, but is it actually *illegal* for an employee to give out that information or do the laws only apply to the EMPLOYER?

Just curious :)

Answer 1

Yes, it's illegal. Of course, it might be tough to prove that it was you who actually provided the information - especially as it was a former employee. Few of us anymore properly separate public from private life, so employees likely saw one another socially. Can't imagine anything worse myself. Think of Moonstruck - Don't eat where you ----. But work mates often risk it despite often terrible consequences.

Answer 2

Not sure about the legality. But it doesn't seem like a good idea. The employees provided their home numbers and they trust that the company will keep the information safe. Maybe the employees would have a law suit against the company if the information isn't properly safeguarded.

Beyond that it doesn't seem necessary for you to give them to her. If you are friendly and want to help her out you could offer to provide HER number to the people she'd like to be in contact with. That way your fellow employees get to choose if they'd like to talk to her or not. I don't see any harm in that and I doubt if there would be company rules that would keep you from helping her in this way.

Answer 3

No, it's not illegal. (Unless your *specific* - and unknown - State has some odd law that I've never heard of.)

Not for an employee to do it, and not even for the employer as a company. Very little of what we think of as personal information is actually protected by law.

There's more rubbish spoken about "privacy laws" than almost any other area.  Pretty much the only info that a company is *legally obligated* to keep confidential has to do with medical records.

Richard

Answer 4

The "Privacy Act" states that personal information can not be given out by anyone other than that person unless they give permission in writing for the Human Resource office.

giving out that information sets you and your company up for a very serious lawsuit, and if your employer told you not to do it, then you will stand alone if anyting comes out of it.

  Would you want someone to just give out your information?  

Answer 5

Your employer is technically is responsible for you while you are at work so therefore your employer will be responsible for any recourse from your action.  If your employer get sue, then they can fire you or attempt to sue you to recover.

Answer 6

maybe it applies to the employer, but you have a duty to do right by your employer also, and if you breach that duty, then that law or others will extend to you.