Slept with colleague and panicking about co-worker's comments

[Oreolla]

I slept with a senior colleague and now I'm panicking that people might have noticed and that I've completely ruined my reputation. I was feeling fine until this evening when the worry set in after I told my sister and she more or less called me a slut (different words but message was clear). I've never done this before (nor had I planned for it!), but it just happened and I feel pretty emotional now.
It was at a work event and I didn't think that anyone had noticed us missing but 2 people made comments to me today which make me think that they might have been hinting, and I've been ruminating. I'm probably catastrophising but now unsure what will happen if someone noticed and reports this to HR? Can I get fired for this if we aren't in a line manager employee situation?
This is my first proper job with a career opportunity and now I'm freaing myself out maybe.

I mean it’s not great but if you don’t work together and he can’t influence your career/promotions I can’t imagine HR will be interested

Might be a bit of gossip for half an hour but nobody will give a shit OP. I know dozens of people who have shagged a work colleague... myself included!

Even if anyone noticed, don’t say a word and just wait for it to pass. Happens all the time. Done it myself and I’m sure some people had suspicions but no one ever actually knew.

Thank you so much!
I really like him and and don't regret it but the comments made me so nervous

I would double check your HR policy - my work has quite a strict one on fraternisation and relationships have to be declared if either party could influence the career of the other and one would be moved to a different department

Are you both single?

Say nothing. Its nobody else's business

Same. Not nowadays, but when I was younger, my whole work life was work and party, everyone was shagging each other

One guy I was sleeping with accidentally texted our boss about the amazing shag he’d just had with me on our lunch break 🙈🤦🏽‍♀️

Is he much older than you? Do you wish a relationship with him?

Washe in the habit of telling people every time he had sex with you? Sounds absolutely gross.

They might suspect something but they don’t KNOW. You need to style it out… just come up with some airy throw away comment that neither admits or denies but deflects attention away.

Judging by how gossip spreads in all the places I've worked at, everyone does or will know very soon.

Obviously, it was an immature thing to do, especially with a senior colleague and you've now earned yourself a reputation. If this develops into a relationship, your reputation will be spared, otherwise your that woman..from now on.

Depends on company, but some companies have policies where directors need to inform leaders of relationships with junior staff.

What was said? Maybe you’re reading too much into it

How old are you both?

Get a grip of your misogyny. No she isn’t ’that woman’ whatever that means.

OP stop freaking out. Don’t tell
anyone else, if anyone else comments on your disappearing just shrug and say, I’m not sure when you mean, I didn’t see you the whole time either.

Deny it, if anyone asks.

Read the post.

Just don't fall into the trap of answering any gossip. Say nothing. As long as you are both consenting adults and there was no abuse of power involved, don't tell anyone else.
Perhaps stay away from him if possible in working hours.

Don't get your honey where you get your money. Haha, I was just waiting for a chance to say that.

Don’t shit where you eat

its not great is it and yes I’m sure the rumour mill is doing the rounds and no you won’t come off great

Your line manager might be right in the shit here.
Any decent company will have a policy about this, to prevent managers coercing juniors into ‘sex for promotion’ type situations.

Yup I think this approach is spot on!

It happens OP, don't worry