Managers being able to search employees out of their teams

Currently and im not sure this is legacy logic but managers are able to search 'all' employees including those outside their teams. It just surfaces their name, and role in the "new" menu, and when they try and click into the profile it is not allowed. Not sure the use for this other that being a PHR directory? I worry that if there are ever any security permission issues that this would open the employees profiles up by accident. Seems to be a potential risk for no real benefit...