Is it just me....?

[Moonstone6]

Hi There,

Over the last few weeks i have had to take some time off work due to one virus or another (tonsillitis then turning into flu) and so have been in and out of the office.

I work in quite a small office, I'm feeling pretty guilty anyway about the fact ive taken time off work, and obviously feeling low as i'm unwell. But i've come back to work today after being home the last three days to not one person asking how I am, and pretty much just being ignored. Each time I cough or blow my nose there is a very obvious "oh for gods sake" feel in the office and i've watched a couple of people emailing each other which I'm sure are probably about me.

Now, is it just me or is this bullying? I honestly could cry. I know their probably fed up with me being ill now, and trust me, so am I. But do i really deserve to just be ignored like some leper in the corner??

Please someone, give a poorly girl some advice :)

Thank you

[ummmm]

What's 'pretty much just being ignored' mean?

Maybe you're being over sensitive because you're not well. If you're still coughing and blowing your nose, maybe they think you shouldn't be at work spreading your germs.

[mccfluff]

offices are bitchy places and its not helped that some people think you shouldn't take time off unless you are actually dying.

With it being a small office then the others would of had to pick up your work and they'll be resentful.

it happens its not nice but that's what happens.

All i can suggest is knuckle down and get on with it, it will blow over eventually when they have something else to talk about

i do thinkyou are being a tad oversentsitve on the email side of things though!

[millie_3]

hi moonstone,i like you feel so guilty tat ive been off sick that i work myself up and get paranoid! If your still unwell you should still be at home hun, arev these guys always so hostile? i mean do they behave like this if anyone else has been off for a few days? and do you normally have a good relation ship with them? x

[Mosaic]

Remember - you are there to earn money, not be every9ne's bosom buddy. Breeze in, give a general good maorning, then eyes down for the top trow and on with the work. Which can be largely mucking around on AB if you're subtle.

[joko]

how long have you been off for?

maybe they think its too long for tonsilitis?

or maybe they think you have come back too soon and are spreading round germs risking making them all ill..

if you are coughing sneezing and spluttering all day i daresay its just a bit irritating - especially if they sense you are putting it on a bit ...so, are you?
you clearly want them to believe you have been very ill and have some sympathy for you... have you perhaps been 'demonstrating' it a bit much...?
i wouldnt blame you if you had to be honest... you want them to understand you truly have been unwell and still are - but a fake, forced cough is very easy to spot...and wont go down well...

i get quiet annoyed when people come to work - or even the pub - when they are utterly riddled with germs - they think they are being brave and soldiering on - but really they are just spreading it round - and to people who are vulnerable - old, young, asthmatics etc it becomes a lot more serious than a bit of a sniffle

also tonsilitis does not 'turn into flu' - flu is a virus and tonsilitis is bacterial - so not connected ... so if you are going around telling them that they probably think you are making up illnesses and playing on it ...

i do think you are being paranoid though ... a 'feel' in the office could just be in your head...if you think something - you will see it everywhere - and thinking they are emailing each other about you - how could you possibly know that?

[China Doll]

If they're covering your work then they're probably heads down and quite busy. If someone is off sick in my office I'm unlikely to ask how someone is feeling, I assume they're better as they're back at work so I'll treat them the same I always did. I don't expect a fanfare or to be asked how I'm feeling when I come back either particularly.

I do get peeved when people come in to work still coughing or blowing their noses... I don't want whatever someone else has got and have been known to ask 'are you sure you should be here' to somoeone demonstrating all those symptoms on the basis that I don't want what they've got!