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

[lissy]

Since returning to work after my MC, I have found that alot of people thought I was actually on holidays for the 1 1/2 weeks I was away lmao not really.
I work in a fairly large company & dont feel that I need to explain my actual situation to every tom,**** & harry, but dont feel comfortable with them thinking I had that time off during an extremely busy work period to bludge.

Help me...... How do I answer when they ask 'How was your holidays?'

[Kazbah]

I don't have an answer, just want you to have my

I'd just be tempted to say that it wasn't a holiday, you were ill but you're back now. End of discussion.

[lissy]

Yeah I thought I would try the 'I was away sick actually' but it went pear shaped on me yesterday when they then asked 'oh what did you have?? was it the flu??'.
Maybe I should have added a little 'cough' 'cough' for sincerity

But just had no idea that so many people noticed I was away, Ive been asked so many times & its ranged from people thinking I was on holiday to them thinking Id started working in a whole different 'department ' at work. My HR manager has had a hissy fit coz I have obviously inconvenienced her by missing my 'employee review' she had scheduled during my time away too.

[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.