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Should my employer being informed if I apply for financial assistance?

Recently I renewed my membership at the YMCA. Two years ago, after almost five years of a personal membership at a corporate rate (monthly deductions from my checking account) I applied to the Y for financial assistance...normally for underprivledged families.

I didn't submit any 1040 forms or financial data, but instead wrote a letter detailing how I valued the Y, their location, and the opportunity to drop in and "freshen up" since I live some 35 miles away.
They responded by granting me a half price membership, for a half year, which I used twice a week.

Last year, they sent me a membership form to renew, which I did, and the next week, my wife was sacked. I continued paying my full rate for the next year, dropping in four times a week to excercise on my dinner break.

This year, I wrote another letter to the Y, explaining that it had been a tough year financially, and that I was still in tight times. I stressed how I use the Y, and that I didn't want it to get out that I had applied for financial aide. They again approved a half-price membership which I paid in full.

Last week, I asked the company accountant for some info related to filing a W-4, and got a glimpse of my personel folder, as she pulled it out. I was shocked to see a copy of my letter to the Y in my personnel folder.

Was I nieve to think that the Y wouldn't share my letter with my employer? Why should my employer know or care that I asked for a discount they had approved in the past? Why would the Y provide a copy of the letter when I specifically asked them to keep it confidential? Can I sue them? Have they committed a breach of ethics? The YMCA is not a public agency, nor a governmental unit. Are they not a private business?

O my captain asked in Other - Finance & Legal about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Bauhaus_small
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    Bauhaus

    Sounds pretty crappy to me, OMC. Did you sign anything anywhere along with your letter/application to the Y that gave them permission to contact your employer?

    As far as suing goes, you can, of course, talk to an attorney, but suing is usually done to find remedy for loss of income or property. Has there been any because of this?

    I don't know if any ethics were breached. Sounds like the Y is guilty of breach of etiquette and maybe a breach of confidentiality if no permission was given to contact your employer.

    Try filing a complaint with Washington State Attorney General's Department of Consumer Affairs and send a letter to the Y stating your disappointment with them and that a complaint has been made to the Attorney General. That should make them at least a little uneasy.

    And given your financial situation, you probably don't want to find another gym, but I think you should. By the way, since the economy is so bad, gym memberships are way down. Maybe you can strike a deal with one who really wants your business.

    Good luck, OMC.

    Bauhaus answered in Other - Finance & Legal about 1 year ago | Report
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