Re: desk / cubicle privacy

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On 10/04/06, eris wrote:
> Can anyone tell me if it is legal for a manager to pick
> papers off desks and read them thouroughly even if its
> established the paper is private?
> I once inadvertenly left a school application ( my
> daughters) on my desk and caught my boss reading it
> through - she also did this when it came time to
> reevaluate my health care benefits (provided through
> company), doesn't that violate HIPPA?
> also she entered a director's office and went through a
> box marked personal. Recently she entered a cubicle and
> read through resumes that are not for any position she
> oversees.
>
> I have since tried to keep everything at home that I
> wouldn't want anyone to see -but I found her the other day
> going through my drawers and looking at some birthday
> presents some co coworkers gave me.
> do I have recourse??
>
> Yes; you have the recourse of keeping personal stuff at
home. You have no legal expectation of privacy in the
workplace.

No, this does not violate HIPAA. Only medical information
that they obtain through the group health insurance plan is
protected under HIPAA. And even then only in some
circumstances.