I just been told off by my manager for walking across the office with a sanitary towel in my hand!

[TinLeaf]

This afternoon my manager call me into her office. Apparently, a couple of people have spoken to her because I sometimes walk to the office toilets carrying a sanitary towel and it’s making them uncomfortable. She has suggested I take my bag with me instead.

I thought times had moved on and I refuse to be made to feel ashamed of my period. I think the people who have complained are being ridiculous and need to get over it. Aibu?

I’d start storing them on my desk.

If I see a dude carrying a loo roll to the toilets, my first thought is, oh, the toilets ran out of loo roll. I'm not going to picture in glorious technicolour the nitty gritty image of him bearing down on a poo. . .

@TinLeaf

I was too shocked to say much. It hadn’t even occurred to me that anyone might have a problem and It’s only afterwards that I started to feel angry.

I’m not going to change my ways and I’m going to speak to my manager again on Monday.

Let us know how it goes!

This has brought back terrible memories of having to deal with a member of staff who used reusable sanitary pads, she took to washing them at work and drying them on the radiator. I think it was all women who complained, the men thought it was hilarious. They obviously weren't the sensitive type.

Pernickety knob = saying that you can't draw equivalence between wandering about the workplace with a condom and a sanitary towel.

This thread is making my Friday night

Can’t people just agree that some people feel differently without it being such a bunfight? FWIW I haven’t seen a single post on this thread actually agreeing that raising it as a complaint was appropriate, just people saying they probably wouldn’t openly carry personal care products around the office themselves. And anyone who dares express that view is being launched on amd insulted

I think we’re probably pretty much all on the same page that this shouldn’t be HR territory and the men who complained are ridiculous, but some of us just feel differently about how comfortable we are letting our work colleagues know we’re on our period. Can’t we just respect that and say to each their own?

[quote ForTheHorde]@MrsMcNally some people do feel differently, but why not challenge yourself to think why you feel like that? Do you think periods are inherently shameful, disgusting and require hiding? Why else would the slightest sign that someone might have one bother you.

In terms of ‘personal hygiene’ would you feel equally uncomfortable seeing someone carrying a personal packet of tissues because they have a cold? If not, why?[/quote]
Actually snot is the bodily fluid I find most revolting. I've stopped watching the 10 pm news on BBC news channel because one of the presenters always sounds like he's got a stuffed up nose and he's always touching his nose and wiping it. I keep thinking should I write to the BBC and suggest they buy him a hankie.

@TinLeaf

I was too shocked to say much. It hadn’t even occurred to me that anyone might have a problem and It’s only afterwards that I started to feel angry.

I’m not going to change my ways and I’m going to speak to my manager again on Monday.

I so wish I was the HR Manager at your place, I’d come in with a bag full of products and start throwing them around the office (and yes I work in HR 😂)

You should definitely put it in an envelope next time.

On the envelope:

Bloody Mary,
Periodville,
The Red Planet

Having been a manager I honestly would have told them to grow up and suggesting I find them some more work to do as they can't be very busy if they've got time to notice and complain about what people are taking to the toilet.

@MrsMcNally

Can’t people just agree that some people feel differently without it being such a bunfight? FWIW I haven’t seen a single post on this thread actually agreeing that raising it as a complaint was appropriate, just people saying they probably wouldn’t openly carry personal care products around the office themselves. And anyone who dares express that view is being launched on amd insulted

I think we’re probably pretty much all on the same page that this shouldn’t be HR territory and the men who complained are ridiculous, but some of us just feel differently about how comfortable we are letting our work colleagues know we’re on our period. Can’t we just respect that and say to each their own?

Well said

Do these men not live with women that have periods? do their wives have to hide their Sanpro?

It's bonkers.

[quote ForTheHorde]@MrsMcNally some people do feel differently, but why not challenge yourself to think why you feel like that? Do you think periods are inherently shameful, disgusting and require hiding? Why else would the slightest sign that someone might have one bother you.

In terms of ‘personal hygiene’ would you feel equally uncomfortable seeing someone carrying a personal packet of tissues because they have a cold? If not, why?[/quote]
I don’t think anything of the sort around periods. I just am quite a private person and I have my own boundaries about everything person at work. Honestly I don’t love getting up and waking to the loo in my office when it’s quiet because it’s basically telling people I’m going to the toilet and I don’t like that a huge amount. No doubt I’ll get ridiculed and insulted again for saying that but it’s how I feel, I have my own feelings and boundaries and I’m ok with that. I also respect that others can feel totally differently.

Fuckin hell. What a belter ! Is your office in the 80s?
This is really, really out of order.
I'll bet it was woman who said, men probably don't even know wtf they are !
Straight onto HR. And if you have a meeting, a a sympathetic co worker or better rep, to sit in and take notes

I also agree you should arrange them on the desk. Maybe in a pen holder?
A red one?

just people saying they probably wouldn’t openly carry personal care products around the office themselves. And anyone who dares express that view is being launched on amd insulted

Except they're not just saying that, are they?

They are saying why can't women be more discreet, take a bag, stop wafting round the office, stop advertising that they are on their period, etc.

Thats not just saying they wouldn't "openly carry" sanpro is it?

@SparkleSpangle

While I think it is ridiculous anyone complained. There is something to be said for being discreet. Obviously you are going to have a period but do you need to let everyone know. Just put it in your pocket.

What is there to be said for "being discreet"? Please, enlighten us!

Tell them all to f* off

Next time I dare you to walk back to your desk with your skirt 'accidentally' tucked into your knickers.

Get one of these bags to put it in 😄 www.fempowered.me/blogs/news/bags-of-period-positivity-our-new-celebrity-designed-merchandise

Crazy. How bloomin closely are these colleagues watching you?!

Next women will be walking around the office openly showing that they have a physical form. They should be more discreet and turn into vapour

@MrsMcNally

Can’t people just agree that some people feel differently without it being such a bunfight? FWIW I haven’t seen a single post on this thread actually agreeing that raising it as a complaint was appropriate, just people saying they probably wouldn’t openly carry personal care products around the office themselves. And anyone who dares express that view is being launched on amd insulted

I think we’re probably pretty much all on the same page that this shouldn’t be HR territory and the men who complained are ridiculous, but some of us just feel differently about how comfortable we are letting our work colleagues know we’re on our period. Can’t we just respect that and say to each their own?

The problem comes when people are branding around words like "unprofessional" and comparing tampons to condoms.

We need to get past this kind of anti-feminist bullshit. Women have periods, it's absolutely nothing to be ashamed or needs to be hidden away.

@KeepYaHeadUp

Next women will be walking around the office openly showing that they have a physical form. They should be more discreet and turn into vapour

Boobing boobily around the office flaunting their boobs?

I take my whole handbag into the loo so I can do make up etc so wouldn't take a towel out and then walk to the loo. But what I'm really enjoying about the last few years is that the taboo on periods and menopause has completely changed, I used to be ashamed and embarrassed about sanitary towels and now it's so normalised which is great. Why would people be uncomfortable about periods? It's their problem in that case.

If I were their manager my response would be ' are you not too busy to notice these things?'