To share or not to share.

A client recently shared an email she received from a colleague. It was sent to the entire team. Here it is, below, with personal information redacted:

Hi All:

I just wanted to let you folks know a little more, as it may impact my work schedule. I’ve already informed [boss’s name redacted]. [Child’s name redacted] has a very nasty ulcer on his thigh/backside that needs surgery to close. We are waiting for the surgeon to get in touch with us to schedule it, hopefully today. In the meantime, he needs help dressing the wound. I will be working from home as best I can, and I will let you know if I need some PTO at some point.

Later that day, a follow up was sent, also the entire team!

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to let you know that [redacted] is going to be fine. There was no need for surgery; he just needs to treat the ulcer as a wound, and keep it clean, treat it with ointment, and follow up with the doctor in a week. Thanks for all your concern and support!

I never thought I’d be giving advice like this, but here it goes. Don’t share detailed information about a family member’s health, wound, or course of treatment in a department-wide email! It’s inappropriate, and it makes people feel uncomfortable. The kicker here is that the client told me that the child in question is 17. I really hope he doesn’t know that the details of his ailment were broadcast to his parent’s entire peer network. For those of you who have one, have had one, or will have one in the future – let me tell you: 17-year-olds don’t even want to be in a family photo, let alone have the world know about their health issues!

This is another case in which the author of the email should have erred on the side of brevity. The only information his colleagues needed to know was this:

I will be working from home today, and can be reached via email or the following phone number. Thanks.

That’s it. Mercy!