Boss finding out about looking for another job through a personal contact

[Jasper10413]

My partner has been looking for a new job for a few months now and after a discussion with his manager regarding another matter, he found out that the manager is aware that he is looking, as the manager had been informed by their partner who works for the company where a role was based.

Is It illegal for the managers partner to inform the manager that my partner has applied for a role within another company?

If if its not illegal, is it worth pursuing in terms of launching a complaint against this person for breaching confidentiality?

The manager is a very personal person in that they hold grudges and will do inappropriate things to get one over on someone who has crossed them. The manager has stopped previous promotions of other employees because they had annoyed the manager. I am worried that if my partner does end up staying their for the yearly review the manager will some how get back at my partner for this discussion they had as well as the fact he is applying for another job.

[teaboy2]

Re: Boss finding out about looking for another job through a personal contact

Yes it is, its a breach of confidentiality but more importantly a breach of the data protection act.

our OH needs to inform the other employer of the breach and who disclosed his personal data, making it clear this will course your OH detriment and likley lead to his current manager the husband of the person that committed the breach to hold a grudge and likely now try and find away to cause your OH problems at work, and over looked for promotion etc etc.

And yes you can sue, but only if this does have an impact on your OH's career with current company.

Though you can also report the matter to the information commissioners office, who will investigate and likely award compensation to your OH.