Or over sensitive re comments about PT work?

Yes I think one or two comments are tolerable but when it's repeated it's not on.

Something like "please stop bringing up my working pattern- if you have any issues please liase with my line manager"

Poor you if you think the opinions on MN are a true reflection of general opinion!

I can't afford to work full time - nursery would eat my earnings. How is that lucky?

I’ve worked part time for 20 years now. I don’t engage with comments like that, I couldn’t give a crap. My DC are now grown up and I don’t need to be around for them anymore but I have zero interest in losing my day walking the dog around the woods, going to a yoga class and an afternoon in my/my mum’s garden so that I can work instead. That’s far more valuable to me and I expect the nastiness stems from jealousy from your colleagues that they can’t do the same.

'The real world'.

I've been in both positions and have probably been guilty of the occasional "lucky you, part-timer" comments that have not been meant at all snarky, but just a mindless comment. However, then I changed to PT after babies came along and those same comments really stung. I would end saying things like "ha! I'm just off to do my other job now - that one is days, nights and weekends for no pay at all".

I'm really careful now and don't offer any commentary on other people's work patterns, you never know what people are dealing with behind the scenes.

I like the suggestion upthread of directly facing these people and being blunt about this having gone on for long enough now. Hints are not working. If their comments are borne from mindlessness/thoughtlessness they'll stop. But if they are being twats, well you know where you stand and can make an informed decision. That might be to stay bc other factors suit your life right now, or it might be to leave.

It’s very much about luck. Many many people would want to work part time but are unable to. You’re lucky to be able to do it.

Stop whining about it.

Absolutely!

Mumsnet isn’t reflective of the real world. On here you’ll mostly get supportive comments from like minded women.

Unfortunately in the real world, part timers are carried by their full time colleagues mostly.

You’re very lucky to be able to work part time for whatever reasons - suck it up buttercup!

"Yeah, you're here all week but you do fuck all!"

That is true true true.

I work in a role where you have to meet certain targets. When I asked to drop a day I was told that I could- but my targets would stay the same. There would be no corresponding drop. It was a fucking disaster and meant I just crammed an extra 7 hours into my working days or after work yet got paid for a day less.

Bastards.

(I am job hunting. It;s a toxic shit place anyway. )

Yes you are right about efficiency. Many years ago there was a guy who always seemed to be missing bedtime with kids because he was sooooo busy, however, he’d faff for much of the day and then only really start getting his head down later in the day. He could have finished earlier if he tried.

I used to get this all the time, there was also an assumption that I would work all the bank holidays as I was "off" the rest of the time anyway! I used to tell them I came to work for a rest. I also had one woman ask "If I get pregnant, does that mean I get a year off work too?" 🙃

I would do as people have suggested and lean into it with a few comments about day time TV and naps. They obviously have no idea and aren't listening to you anyway so rub it in 😉

DH and I run our own business, and I'm in the office from 8.30am to around 3.30pm and get "part time" comments all the time from our staff. I just smile and say yes lucky me, even though I cram a 50 hour week into the time I'm there. One of these days I'm going to comment that it's not my fault that I'm productive with my time.

Every Wednesday I would gleefully leave with have a nice weekend, see you Monday

So you need to write it all down just in case it escalates.

I work the same and as I leave on a Wednesday I get similar remarks.

Usually it's a pointed 'Have a nice weekend'

I reply 'will do, you too!'

Just own it and they'll get over it.

So when they say see you next week just say something like 'have a good week' or 'yes see you then' in a cheery way.

Or just slope off whic is what I do.

I work with flexible hours. Some people in my company work condensed ours so only do 4 days. They are still doing the same amount of work though!

it’s different for folks like me when the work can be done at any time versus something like being a teacher where there are set times, but if you are paid a set amount to do a specific job and you do it, it’s no one else’s business.

there was a time when I would have loved part time, but it’s not an option with my career, so we all have individual agency to do what’s best for ourselves. You make your choice and live with it.

I would say though, how on earth can anyone whine about a part time teacher when you probably do full time hours with marking and prep work anyway, you just don’t get paid for it?

just ignore them, if they want to be like that they can be, if it goes to far start recoding incidents and report as bullying, but keep your head high and do what works for your family

Own it, reply with ‘yes it’s great’

The flip side of this is a lot of PT people are expected to be more efficient in their PT hours. I remember going down to 3 days a weeek in my part time job. It was project based and I didnt lose any projects or get longer timescales. I just had to work more intensively. I remember thinking 'gosh these full timers really do spend so much time in pointless meetings, chatting round the water cooler and messing things up when they are sleepy in the late afternoon' which included me just months beforehand!

I wouldn’t mention it to line manager I’d just say “yeah less time I have to spend with you” and leave it at that.

Was there a need to be so aggressive? I was just stating what I see at my workplace in relation to some PTs. I wasn’t attacking PT.

And neither do I have ‘weak boundaries’. I’m in the senior leadership team on 6 figures so to be honest eyebrows would be raised if I didn’t work long hours sometimes to ensure specific deadlines are met. Where I work although it’s not expected to always be working over hours, it’s expected that from time to time you work longer to get projects over the line.

I am one day a week in a senior role. Anyone who says I am jammy when I say I am off the other days I just say your welcome to do the same, only Downside is 1/5 of the normal pay.

Or I say I am practicing for retirement.

I am just trying to be aware that I am lucky to afford it and not rub that in much.

I will admit to being jealous of those working part time, totally appreciate they earn less but in most cases there’s a partner making up the difference. But I’d never say anything to someone!