Is ok post in a new account if want keep anonymity. Im curious What the handbook said? and What your manager said about this rule? And you didn't do anything wrong, you are a compasive human being. If a handbook said you have to be a asshole and your manager agree with that interpretation is time to find a new job

Did you read the handbook? What does it say regarding hospital visitation or contact outside the workplace?

Did you take unscheduled time off during work hours or was this an after-work visit?

How did HR even find out about this visit?

"What did I do wrong?" Sounds to me like you did a good thing.

Unless you put the guy in the hospital in the first place and got a restraining order against you, or at least were asked by that coworker to not visit him, how can such off-hours behaviour ever be HR's business?

I know it's impossible, but I wish that we could keep a list of these companies' names so everybody could avoid them.

I really, really want an update on this, want to know what the handbook says. Unless, like @rackandboneman says, you're leaving out something vital.

Relevant question: How did HR find out about your visit? The most obvious answers are that 1) you were reported by your colleague whom you visited or 2) you visited during work-hours. If either of these is the case, that would explain a lot. If on the other hand you visited after-hours, and just mentioned the visit in passing during a conversation and got in trouble, then that makes less sense.

@rackandboneman If they were talking about work in a public environment (i.e. a hospital ward) that might be HR's business from a security point of view. But in my own work environment (large employer) there have been occasions when a semi-official "diary" has been set up for out-of-hours hospital visits to a co-worker, to avoid too many people turning up at the same time. I agree with other comments, it seems we haven't got the whole story here.

I'd like to read the handbook

@Doc The most likely reason is that the OP told his colleagues and/or manager, having no idea that this behaviour was forbidden

@IMil what I and others are supposing is that the most likely reason is that the person he visited reported him. Think about it you are recovering from some issue, you are half dressed in a hospital gown, some people I know don't want to trouble family members (I mean ones that don't live with you) so even they would not be informed but you do have to notify work... so this guy from work decides to visit you... a lot of people would not be pleased.

Related to what @Quaternion said, if the co-worker had asked that the information remain quiet, how did OP find out about it? If it leaked out...

Did you ask the person in the hospital if you could visit and were you at least friendly with him before? I feel like visiting a colleague in the hospital is great and in my country it’s definitely considered fine, but opinions may vary. I think your question would benefit if you could make the situation more clear.

Do wrong? Apparently, it was not reading the handbook. Definitely, it was not providing us a copy, so we've no idea.

I really feel like there's not enough information here for anyone to answer objectively. Until OP adds detail about whether he visited within work hours or is the cause of the hospitalisation, and/or what the employee handbook says, this question isn't answerable.

I would add that the handbook is not always legally binding... you should read your contract and handbook very carefully as it COULD be that HR are just being overzealous in enforcing it.

As usual, location/culture is relevant and should not be omitted from the question.

Something is missing from this story... considering they wrote you up for it, you really expend a lot of effort to figure out what the missing piece is. I expect it is obvious in hindsight, and hope you will post it here at the bottom of your answer under "solved" or as an answer to your question.

Also relevant: was it a work visit or a friendly visit? Your company may have a legal obligation not to bother a sick/hospitalized employee with work.

What country are you in? And what type of industry is your business in?

Did you already check the handbook and if so, can you find a rule that seems to apply there? If so, it might help us to know what part of the handbook seems to prohibit what you did. It also makes a difference, IMHO, whether your hospital visit was in fact completely innocent and supportive of a coworker or whether you actually have a relationship outside of work with this person.

What a shame - all this effort wasted on a TDU.

@Fattie what does "TDU" mean?

Y'all could just VTC it...

@Nosrac .. Transient Disappearing User :/ They post an interesting question and then sadly disappear, never to return ............................

Yeah. Time to close this nonsense. I flagged it. That's all I can do.

Aka a troll....