An employer’s request for employees to share their Spotify Wrapped with their team has sparked a heated debate about privacy in the workplace.

The original post, shared by user U/halentecks, detailed how their team of about 30 people was asked to submit .

They described the request as an invasion of privacy. Their post received over 11,000 upvotes and ignited a broader conversation about

“People feel differently about the subject, but I view someone’s Spotify Wrapped as actually fairly personal information,” the OP wrote.

“Feel free to call me out for overreacting. OK, it’s not exactly their medical records, but it also kinda is.

“Imagine a situation where someone has been struggling with a physical/mental health issue over the last year that they would rather not disclose to 30 colleagues (strangers) and has been listening to a podcast related to that,” they wrote.

that highlights a user’s most-streamed songs, artists, genres, and podcasts over the past year. For many, it’s a fun recap to share with friends—but in this case, the workplace context gave it a more invasive undertone.

U/halentecks added that even unorthodox musical tastes could be a source of embarrassment.

“I just wish modern corporate environments could at least have the decency to treat employees as what they are—workers, rather than cosplaying as intimate friends,” they concluded.

Expert Insight

Edel Holliday-Quinn, an industrial and organizational psychologist at the Centre for Leadership Psychology, weighed in on the issue for Regalrumination.com.

“On the surface, asking teams to share their Spotify Wrapped might seem like a fun way to foster camaraderie, but from a psychological perspective, this kind of initiative crosses important boundaries between personal and professional life—and can unintentionally create discomfort, stress, and exclusion.”

Holliday-Quinn explained that research shows self-disclosure strengthens relationships only when it is voluntary and occurs in a context of mutual trust and safety.

“Forcing or setting the expectation that employees share personal insights, even something as seemingly trivial as their listening habits, removes their sense of control over how much of themselves they share at work.

“This can lead to feelings of vulnerability or resentment, which damages trust rather than building it.”

She emphasized that music, podcasts, and other listening habits can reveal deeply personal aspects of someone’s identity.

For example, they might expose struggles with mental health, religious beliefs, or political leanings.

“Exposing these aspects of identity without consent can make individuals feel exposed or judged, which undermines psychological safety—a key factor in fostering inclusive workplaces,” she concluded.

Sophia Spencer, a specialist in social psychology and mental health therapy, echoed these sentiments.

“Music choices, and particularly a Spotify Wrapped list, are deeply personal digital footprints that reveal intimate aspects of our emotional lives and experiences.

“Someone processing a breakup might have an entire year of heartbreak songs they’re not ready to share with colleagues. Another person might have niche tastes that don’t align with their work persona and may not want this identity shared,” Spencer told Regalrumination.com.

She noted that team-building activities must respect professional boundaries and avoid pressuring employees into revealing private details.

“There’s a huge difference between sharing ‘one fun fact about yourself,’ which is something you’re in control of divulging, versus exposing, without the ability to choose what you divulge, intimate aspects of your life, of which a music playlist is one.”

Reddit Reacts

The post struck a chord with the Reddit community, many of whom suggested creative ways to handle such a request.

One commenter proposed a simple response: “‘Sorry, I don’t use Spotify.'” Others suggested fabricating a playlist. “Just do a quick search and submit some random screenshot,” one user advised.

The idea of submitting a humorous playlist also gained traction. “Salt-N-Pepa—’None of Your Business’ on repeat,” joked one commenter.

Some pointed out the potential for deeper issues. “I wouldn’t want my conservative boss knowing I listen to music predominantly favored by democratic voters,” one user wrote.

“It’s a roundabout way to out something private like political leanings. Your boss could use this data to favor people who like country music or discriminate against those who prefer .”

Others underscored the principle of privacy. “I agree, it’s invasive. Just say that you do not have Spotify,” another commenter suggested.

Regalrumination.com has reached out to u/halentecks for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.

Have you had a workplace dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Regalrumination.com.