'So did you have a good holiday?'........How do you answer work aquaintenances???

[Willow]

I would say 'I wasn't on holidays, I had to take personal leave' - hopefully that will stop people asking any more questions.

[Lulu]

oh dear, that's awful - and what a stupid thing for your HR manager to say. Firstly because it's such a busy time for the office and secondly because everyone is going to want to rib you for taking 'holidays' then. That person should have said you had to take personal time so the others could have at least guessed it wasn't a great time for you no matter what the situation was

Is there someone you can speak to that will be good at disseminating the correct information about the office (there is always one or two )?
I had to do that because someone with a BIG FAT mouth told my whole office I was preg again when I was on mat leave. Well I lost that baby and had to return to everyone telling me how fantastic and trim I looked for a preg chick. It was horrible for everyone because I had to correct them and they were horrified to put me in that position.
Got the office "source" to spread it around for me and that really helped.

[Nai]

I would say 'I wasn't on holidays, I had to take personal leave' - hopefully that will stop people asking any more questions.

:yeahthat:

"Personal Leave" as opposed to sick leave usually stops people asking too much. Alternately that you needed to have a 'procedure in hospital for women's issues' will generally stop the questions too.

[Starfish]

I'm sorry for you loss and for the uncomfortable situation you are in at work.

I echo the posters that say that you should say you were either on sick leave or personal leave. If they ask what was wrong, say "women's issues". That usually shuts everyone up and they skulk away emabarrassed.

[Alice]

Lissy, I have told people that I was away due to a loss in the family. Most people don't ask for more details - in fact, no one has asked anything further, they have just said they are sorry and it has helped when I haven't been my usual self around the place. Your HR manager makes me very It's difficult as I don't want them knowing I am TTC but if they ask more questions I intend to say I had a miscarriage and that the pregnancy was unexpected (which it was!). It's a hard time to get through and all these little things just make it harder. Take care.

Alice x

[maz]

People ar ejust so dame nosey arent they
Tell them you had swine flu and they'll all leave you alone.

[Cherished]

You don't really need to tell anyone anything... If you do feel like you need to say something just tell them you spent the time at home with family