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Original poster

I’ve just leaked at work!

57 replies

fairynick · 02/12/2020 14:31

What do I do?
I’m on my period and have leaked onto my jeans. I’m in an office of around 25 people and have gone to the toilet and my pad has shifted so there’s blood on my jeans. It isn’t massive but I checked with my phone camera whilst in the cubicle and you can see it when I walk.
I’ve scuttled back to my desk and just shutting myself not knowing what to do.
Might just stay seated until the end of the day and run out quickly.

OP posts:

CorianderQueen · 02/12/2020 15:56

Male

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/12/2020 15:56

If you have a coat put it on. Tell your boss you need to pop home. Can you take a laptop and log back in from home to finish your work?

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2020 15:58

To avoid future incidents-some Diary doll pants or similar. they have saved me on a few occasions, but I do carry around a spare pair of trousers and pants just in case. The joys eh?

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Justcallmebebes · 02/12/2020 15:58

What are these jobs where you can just put your coat on, announce you're leaving, and that's it?

I know!! I want one of those. Mind, my boss is male and you just have to mumble "wimmin's problems" and he shoos you away

PenelopePiper · 02/12/2020 15:58

@NuniaBeeswax

What are these jobs where you can just put your coat on, announce you're leaving, and that's it?

Morana23 · 02/12/2020 16:04

This happens to me regularly (v. heavy and irregular periods) and I know it's not easy but I just say what's happened. I've leaked at work, on friends sofas, family members beds when staying over, the passenger seat of my now dh's car when we were first dating I used to feel embarrassed but now I just think fuck it, I can't help it and if they make a big deal they're a twat anyway!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/12/2020 16:04

It think if you say I need to go home and will catch your work it this evening most bosses would take your word for it.

CheetasOnFajitas · 02/12/2020 16:11

Is it at risk of leaking further, the longer you sit there?

Do you have to get up and walk around to do your job (eg to printer, into meetings)?

Are you worried about people noticing at home time or will your coat cover it?

If no to the first two questions and yes to the third, just sit tight and nobody will know.

If yes, I’d go with the “sorry I’m unwell I have to leave”, coat on and go to your manager and say you are unwell and need to go home straight away. If asked you could describe it as being related to menstruation.

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 02/12/2020 16:14

I was in the middle of a conversation with several male colleagues in a board meeting, coughed, felt that sudden damp stickiness of a period arriving a couple of days early.

I just raised my hand & told my boss,

“Have to stop you there, I think I’ve just inked myself.”

Stood up, went to loo, saw utter carnage, cleaned up as best I could, went back into boardroom, grabbed my laptop & jacket & said, “Apologies, we’ll pick this up tomorrow.” And went home.

One of the things about working in a male tech environment (or most male environments I’ve been in) - they don’t tend to be that bothered. It’s the female ones where it’s all gossip behind hands & sniggering.

PatriciaPerch · 02/12/2020 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EBearhug · 02/12/2020 16:20

Just be honest and brash about it. "I have my period and it leaked". It's just a bodily function.

This. In a male-dominated workplace, they will not want to talk about it, so it will be end of conversation.

RedMarauder · 02/12/2020 16:27

@Justcallmebebes

What are these jobs where you can just put your coat on, announce you're leaving, and that's it?

I know!! I want one of those. Mind, my boss is male and you just have to mumble "wimmin's problems" and he shoos you away

It's not the job is it more the company/organisation.

Elfieishere · 02/12/2020 16:28

@EBearhug

Just be honest and brash about it. "I have my period and it leaked". It's just a bodily function.

This. In a male-dominated workplace, they will not want to talk about it, so it will be end of conversation.

I agree.

Just tell them. Most males will just say ok and go. Anything to stop you talking about blood and periods 😂

HermioneWeasley · 02/12/2020 16:31

Honestly nobody will notice - nobody is going to be scrutinising your crotch while you walk

Took · 02/12/2020 16:34

Do you have a disabled toilet at your work? You could try washing out the stain and drying your trousers under the hand dryer. Just make sure to only wet the stained area or you'll be drying them all day!
I've done that. Not great but was better than shuffling about paraniod about the stain.

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 02/12/2020 16:41

"Just inked myself " has amused me for some reason 🤣🤣

Twizbe · 02/12/2020 16:49

That's my worst nightmare at work.

For future reference though, baby wipes get blood out of jeans. Have a pack with you when it's that time of the month.

Discovered when my post partum bleed leaked onto a white chair at a 3 store ... cringe

Truffle123 · 02/12/2020 16:52

I agree that people are unlikely to notice. If you don’t want to / can’t leave early, just put your coat on when you have to move around the office and say you’re freezing. No one will think twice- they’ll be focussed on their own work/wanting to get home

Frieswithanythin · 02/12/2020 16:53

I remember years ago when I worked in a large phone manufacturing company. There was a lady maybe menapause age, I was only 23 at the time. She must have stood up and she had heavily leaked onto her overall. One of the old engineers ran up to her and put his jacket over her. I thought that was so nice, I’ll always remember that. He was so discreet and never said a word.

SweetPetrichor · 02/12/2020 17:26

I’d just tell your manager and nip out to buy trousers if you can, or go home if that’s the better option. I work in a very male dominated environment and it’s far easier to deal with these types of things around men than women! They won’t bat an eye.

Zoolally · 02/12/2020 17:31

This has happened to me a couple of times. First time I told my boss who was so lovely he gave me his jacket because I had to cross the whole floor to get to the exit.

It happened again a year or so later. I stood up and felt a whoosh and there was a patch on my chair. My colleague next to me (who I’d only known a few weeks at that point) said to just go home and he’ll take care of it. Found out after he actually scrubbed my chair which was, honestly, one of the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me! We’re still friends 20 years later!

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 02/12/2020 17:33

Before I had my kids I had horrendous periods, unpredictable too. One day period arrived heavier that it had ever been and so painful I nearly passed out. I was at work, had to tell my manager (male) that I really didn't feel well and realistically needed to go home as I was feeling so dizzy. OK he said but you'll have to wait until this afternoon when more staff come in! I blurted out, I'm bleeding really heavy and am about to pass out! OK go now he said! 😂😂

Babyiwantabump · 02/12/2020 17:39

I came on while trying shoes on in schuh once .completely unexpected but the shop assistant was lovely and even gave me a tampon!

It happens OP - have you got a handbag you could position in front of the mark on your jeans when walking or something? That’s what I had to do on the walk back through town from schuh!

Begonias · 02/12/2020 17:49

You're not alone OP. I was wearing a lovely new dress to work and took my lab coat off, there was a red patch on the back of the dress. Another colleague was walking behind me and noticed it. She casually walked behind me so nobody else could see the stain. Went to the toilets sorted the dress put while she went and got me some supplies from her bag. I was so grateful for her help. Dread to think how I would have explained the stain on a white lab coat

Voldethought · 02/12/2020 18:02

Remember your male colleagues will be husbands, boyfriends and fathers who will have bought sanitary products, lived with menstruating females, post-partum females and experienced it all before. They probably won’t blink an eye you just tell the truth.

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