Can an employer contact an employee’s doctor and obtain information covered by medical confidentiality?

Ms. [T] was hired as a sales assistant by Pronovias France on July 23, 2012.

Believing herself to be a victim of psychological harassment, the employee, who was dismissed for genuine and serious cause on August 31, 2018, brought a claim before the labor court for the performance and termination of her employment contract.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the management methods within the company had had the effect of deteriorating the employee’s working conditions and were likely to affect her physical or mental health.

It also declared the dismissal null and void and ordered the reinstatement of the employee after finding that the employer had infringed on her privacy by contacting her doctor and using information covered by medical confidentiality.