AITA for exposing my coworker’s private mental health history to the whole office after she got promoted over me?

Oh boy, do we have a doozy for you today! The corporate ladder can be a brutal climb, especially when a coveted promotion slips through your fingers. It’s natural to feel disappointment, frustration, and even a sting of jealousy when a colleague gets the nod over you. But what happens when those emotions fester and lead to a decision that crosses every professional and ethical boundary imaginable? Prepare yourselves for a tale of office politics gone spectacularly wrong.

"AITA for exposing my coworker’s private mental health history to the whole office after she got promoted over me?"

Let's dive into this incredibly charged situation. On one hand, we can empathize with the Original Poster's (OP) deep disappointment and sense of injustice. To work hard for years, feel ready for a promotion, and then see it go to someone else, especially a newer colleague, is a genuinely painful experience. The sting of feeling overlooked can lead to a desperate search for reasons, for answers, and sometimes, for misplaced blame. It's a natural human reaction to feel rejected and frustrated in such a scenario, and those feelings can cloud judgment.

The Office Drama That Broke All Rules! What The Internet Had To Say:

The comments section for this one was, predictably, a whirlwind of outrage. The overwhelming consensus labeled OP as a clear 'You're The Asshole' (YTA). Users were quick to point out the severe ethical and professional violations, emphasizing that one's private medical history, especially mental health, is absolutely off-limits in the workplace. Many commenters highlighted the potential legal repercussions for OP, from termination to possible defamation suits, underlining the seriousness of such a breach of privacy.

In conclusion, while the sting of a missed promotion is undeniably tough, the path chosen by our Original Poster crosses a line that simply cannot be uncrossed. Exposing private mental health history, regardless of how it was obtained, is a severe ethical and professional transgression. This incident serves as a stark reminder that workplace disputes, no matter how emotionally charged, must be handled with integrity and respect for privacy. Retaliation, especially through such personal attacks, almost always boomerangs with devastating consequences for the perpetrator.