Question:

I need to obtain certain information from the HR department that will definitely indicate that I am planning to leave the company. Will HR inform my supervisor of my inquiry? Do employees have any privacy rights?

Answer:

You did not mention the specific information you were looking for that would lead HR to believe that you are planning to leave the company. Employees often ask their HR departments for information on benefits, 401k, health plans, etc., which wouldn't necessarily indicate that an employee is planning to leave. Try to appear matter-of-fact and ask for all of your information at once, including benefits. You'll be less likely to raise any red flags.

As for the HR department informing your boss, you should realize that although HR assists employees and managers, their first job is to protecting the company's interests. Therefore, it is very likely that HR would inform your boss of your inquires.

Finally, on your question of privacy, you can expect that things like your personal information, health status, personal belongings, what you do on your own time, etc., would be kept private. However, what you do on the company's time is not so private. For example, employees would have no grounds to argue that monitored phone calls could be considered an invasion of privacy if the company has a written policy against it, and has informed employees ahead of time.