So...my HR person gave my cell phone # to a fellow employee...

[Mr Downtown]

Me, too. Especially someone you know well enough to give a kitten. And the cell phone even tells you who's calling before you answer.

Are you afraid you'll end up with long distance charges?

[PeterB]

Not to jump on the bandwagon, but I have a slightly similar, slightly different situation -- my boss at work has my cell (we generally share cell numbers in my department, mostly in case of emergencies, but also because almost everyone here has a cell, especially after Katrina), and has been prone to calling me at all hours, about anything (work or non-work related). This person has sometimes also given out my number without my permission. I really don't want to have to say, "please don't do these things", but really don't know what else to do... it should be common sense.

[M A V I C]

mattkime wrote:
I'm still trying to understand why you're getting all huffy about a coworker getting your cell phone number.

HR should never give out personal information. There's a ton of scenarios where this could cause big problems. I've seen situations where people try to get info from HR to do something malicious, even if that bit of info or the story they give seems okay.

[hal]

mattkime wrote:
I'm still trying to understand why you're getting all huffy about a coworker getting your cell phone number.

think for a moment - do YOU want someone else deciding who gets your number and who does not. Next week that person may no longer be a coworker - may have been fired for shooting heroin at her desk - who knows. I think you're being very generous CJ - I don't consider that a good enough reason to give out my number. MAYBE after she had tried to get a hold of you, but even then... not a cool thing to do at all.

[August West]

First off, uncool. Secondly, I handle these situations by calling the number I've been asked to give and let them know someone is trying to get a hold of them.

[lazydays]

You trusted a coworker? Hahaha rookie mistake. They lie to you every day. You just don't know when. Try reading their email. You will never trust another person again.

[$tevie]

mattkime wrote:
I'm still trying to understand why you're getting all huffy about a coworker getting your cell phone number.

Okay, in this particular instance perhaps the end result is not a big deal. But the fact remains that the HR person had no business (and no need for that matter) to give out someone's personal cell phone number. HR has a lot of information about employees and they are supposed to keep it to themselves.

[zero]

Use google voice

[DaviDC.]

Was this the only # on file for you?
Have you been inundated by calls from this person?
If not, perhaps you should take a calming breath or two & move on.
Then let the air out of a couple of her tires on a rainy day.

[space-time]

lazydays wrote:
You trusted a coworker? Hahaha rookie mistake. They lie to you every day. You just don't know when. Try reading their email. You will never trust another person again.

reading someone else's email is not ethical, and it may be illegal. I know you worked in some IT positions so maybe you were entitled to check their email to protect the company. But for the rest of us, non IT people, reading someone else's email is probably asking for trouble.