Q: Is it legal for a manager to be present during a fitness for duty exam without consent?

A: You've described a concerning situation that likely crosses several privacy boundaries. In most jurisdictions, medical examinations like fitness for duty evaluations should maintain your privacy and dignity, including appropriate consent procedures before anyone observes intimate parts of an exam. The doctor should have informed you about who would be present and asked for your permission before proceeding with any examination requiring you to remove clothing.

Employment law generally recognizes your right to medical privacy, even in workplace-required examinations. While employers can require fitness exams for legitimate job-related reasons, they must respect confidentiality boundaries. Your manager's presence during an intimate examination without your explicit consent would raise serious legal questions in most places, as it potentially violates medical privacy rights and could constitute inappropriate workplace conduct.

I recommend documenting everything that happened in detail while it's fresh in your memory. You might want to contact an employment attorney who can evaluate the specific laws in your location and advise on potential next steps. Many labor departments or employment commissions also provide confidential consultations about workplace rights violations. Remember that you deserve respect and proper professional boundaries in any workplace-mandated medical situation.