Page 4 | Or over sensitive re comments about PT work?

Bluerossettes · 2023-05-14T06:49:29+00:00

I work three days a week, Monday - Wednesday. And I’m getting so much grief about it at work it’s really putting me off mentioning anything about it at all and in fact I try not to but sometimes I do have to, if only to remind people I can’t do something as I won’t be here. I get some quite nasty comments about ‘lucky me’ and some groans and eye rolls about huh yeah, see you next week then. Generally it isn’t a happy place at the moment for all sorts of reasons but it’s getting a bit much now. I have tried pointing out (in a ‘nice’ way) that part time is an option to everybody and also that I’m spending my days off with preschool children - they really aren’t relaxing days off at all! - but to no avail. Is it worth saying something? I don’t want to come across badly but I do think I’ve been targeted a bit.

Greenfairydust · 14/05/2023 09:21

It sounds like these people are jealous of you. It is not OK to go on about your work pattern for a year and try to make you feel like you are doing something wrong.

The company hired you/agreed on a part-time contract so that is ultimately the company's decision.

Where is your manager in all this? they should be supporting you. They should have shut this down by now by reminding these people that this is your agreed work pattern and that any further negative comments on this will not be tolerated and will be seen as bullying if they continue and that the people making the comments being disciplined.

It is unlawful for organisations to treat part-time workers less favourably. So management should not just stand by while you are constantly being put down by your colleagues.

Raise this with your manager and copy HR.

As a manager myself I would like to know and I would immediately speak to the people who are doing this to remind them that their comments are not appropriate.

EsmeSusanOgg · 14/05/2023 09:20

ohfook · 14/05/2023 08:57

I often find pt workers have to protect their working hours in a way ft workers don't otherwise they're just given the same workload but with less pay and less time in which to complete it.

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This 100%.

Whatt · 14/05/2023 09:14

They are jealous. Simple as.
I get it aswell.

starfishmummy · 14/05/2023 09:13

I think its fairly common for full time workers to make comments about part timers. I was a part time worker years ago and it was the same then. Like someone else has suggested I just used to say that my reduced hours came with a reduced salary.

LincolnshireYellowBelly · 14/05/2023 09:10

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:13

The thing is, this has been going on for nearly a year now, and I’ve done the normal things of - yes but the pay is less, you can request part time too, it is really nice but my days ‘off’ are exhausting … it makes no difference.

If it’s going to stop I’d need to escalate it but I don’t know if it’s worth it.

I would absolutely love to be part time, but I can’t understand such mean and catty comments.
I really wouldn’t entertain the comments by replying back to them and justifying your part time hours. They are just jealous of you. X

DontMakeMeShushYou · 14/05/2023 09:08

Endlesssummer2022 · 14/05/2023 08:40

I do find some PT workers are highly fixated on their contracted hours in ways FT aren’t. For example there are a couple of job sharers who are very ‘I only work Monday to 1pm Wednesday when I handover’. They won’t work an hour over. However, although it’s not ideal you’ll see the FT workers often going past 5/6pm or logging in again later after they’ve done school pick ups etc. Therefore the PT gets more pay per hour. But maybe it’s just a cultural thing in my organisation.

Well it isn't the part time workers' fault if the full-time workers are stupid enough to do unpaid overtime. The PT worker isn't getting more pay per hour. They are getting the correct pay per hour. The FT workers are willingly doing some work for free and management are only too happy to exploit that. No problem if you're happy with that, but it sounds as though you aren't in which case you need to work on your weak boundaries.

GuestStars · 14/05/2023 09:07

I’m a bit jealous of my 2 friends who work 4 days a week and have school-aged DC and no other responsibility on the day off.

I like my job and wouldn’t want to go part time or drop my salary, but I do love the idea of doing absolutely nothing every Monday 😂

Original poster

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 09:00

@Weallgottachangesometime i may well try that.

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ohfook · 14/05/2023 08:57

Endlesssummer2022 · 14/05/2023 08:40

I do find some PT workers are highly fixated on their contracted hours in ways FT aren’t. For example there are a couple of job sharers who are very ‘I only work Monday to 1pm Wednesday when I handover’. They won’t work an hour over. However, although it’s not ideal you’ll see the FT workers often going past 5/6pm or logging in again later after they’ve done school pick ups etc. Therefore the PT gets more pay per hour. But maybe it’s just a cultural thing in my organisation.

I often find pt workers have to protect their working hours in a way ft workers don't otherwise they're just given the same workload but with less pay and less time in which to complete it.

Lifeinlists · 14/05/2023 08:57

If it's a departmental issue ie someone in your department is jealous / feels overworked and is 'having an unsubtle go', then speak to your HoD.
If it's wider or you're not confident in your HoD's support, then speak to your pastoral deputy head (or whoever looks after staff welfare) or the Head. They are responsible for the culture of the whole school, including the staff.

This really isn't OK. Don't justify anything as that just feeds the nasty remarks. The fact you work part time is none of their business. Having taught part time, I put in plenty more hours than my salary indicated!

Weallgottachangesometime · 14/05/2023 08:54

Have you told them how frustrating it is. I wonder if a blunt reply of “every week we have this discussion. Despite being part time since September I still have weekly comments about it, as though you’re just learning for the first time, It’s getting very frustrating and irritating now. Can you stop?”

I would do that and then next step would be a formal complaint to whoever is senior for them to pick it up.

I work part time and I get comments from 1 person about it (though I suspect others feel some way about it). I’ve taken the rub it in route- “yep I‘m only paid until 12:30 so I’m off to relax in the sun, maybe have a G and T in the garden. See you tomorrow”. thing is I think things like this happen more in work places where there is shit staff well-being. I work for a different employer to all the other people in the place I work (contracted) so I am happy with flexible working, great employer etc where as they are unhappy with early start time, no flexibility, shit/non existent management. That’s not my problem though. It’s theirs.
people really need to sort out their own issues with their work without being unkind to others who have managed to get a good work/life balance for themselves.

ohfook · 14/05/2023 08:53

I'm part time and I love it. I know what you mean about jibes though and I just totally just lean in to them - any bye part-timer comments and I just reply by telling them what I'm doing with my two days off or telling them to enjoy their last two days at work. If anyone's particularly arsey I just remind them that if they think it sounds so good, they're welcome to request part time hours too.

Pushpull · 14/05/2023 08:52

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:47

I don’t find PT hard but I find being bullied about it pretty tough going, yes.

It feels like it's gone beyond annoying and into bullying then and I would def raise it with your manager because you must dread leaving as you know it'll come up

SleepDebt · 14/05/2023 08:50

At least the bullet point worked for the last one 😂

SleepDebt · 14/05/2023 08:50

It's clearly jealousy and as much as it's really annoying, I would just have some fun with it - even though I totally appreciate days looking after little ones can often be more draining that work.

-Ooo yes, got a coffee date with friends tomorrow - beats marking 90 books, enjoy!

-Saw the head on the phone for quite a while this afternoon looking worried - hope Ofsted goes well - see you Monday!

-It is so lovely to have a breather from the negativity here!

If you need anything, then you can either let my job-share partner know or I can sort it out Monday - have a lovely rest of your week. Must be so lovely being full-time so you can be in the loop practically 24-7!

Pushpull · 14/05/2023 08:49

Endlesssummer2022 · 14/05/2023 08:40

I do find some PT workers are highly fixated on their contracted hours in ways FT aren’t. For example there are a couple of job sharers who are very ‘I only work Monday to 1pm Wednesday when I handover’. They won’t work an hour over. However, although it’s not ideal you’ll see the FT workers often going past 5/6pm or logging in again later after they’ve done school pick ups etc. Therefore the PT gets more pay per hour. But maybe it’s just a cultural thing in my organisation.

I feel like that's absolutely a cultural thing in your org. I will work long days and over but I can't physically work some of the time I'm not contracted to as I have no option and back up care. I have to be really clear about my boundaries with some people who assume I can just work. I don't assume my ft team can work evenings. I don't assume anyone can work outside of contracted hours but I'm grateful when they do. Sometimes what you're hearing is anxiety - they may genuinely have to leave to relieve a care worker or pick up a child. Doesn't mean they don't log on that night to draft a report.

Thelittlekingdom · 14/05/2023 08:48

I had someone (who works two days a week) comment to me how lucky I was to be working term time only. I work term time only as I have two severely disabled children and can’t work during the holidays as there’s no childcare for them.

Ignore anyone commenting. They sound jealous.

Nacknick · 14/05/2023 08:48

To be honest I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned it to your line manager already

Original poster

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:47

I don’t find PT hard but I find being bullied about it pretty tough going, yes.

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Original poster

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:46

They can laugh behind my back if they want to, I’m fairly sure they already do. Like I say, it isn’t a happy place to work for all sorts of reasons, but these reasons aren’t my fault.

@pecantoucan , if someone says something like ‘the y7 book scan is taking place on Friday’ I am sorry but I’m not going to put my two year old in the car and drive to work so that I can give my books in. It’s reasonable for me to say I’m not here Friday so would they like them Wednesday or Monday instead. Ironically we DO have people who are part time who behave like this who are not given a hard time, but they are in most days and so their part time is less obvious.

OP posts:

Pushpull · 14/05/2023 08:46

JenniferBarkley · 14/05/2023 08:07

I'd go a step further than mentioning your salary, and cheerfully encourage them to apply for part time hours too. Even better if they're young men without kids. "You should just go ahead and request part time Dan, you've been talking about it forever. It's painful when the pay comes in at the end of the month but it works for me, you might find it works for you too!"

I think this is absolutely the right response. Go breezy and oh if it's something you want you should go for it - happy to chat with you about how to make it work!

They are jealous but it's ridiculous. Also (and I mean this kindly) is there a part of you that finds PT hard and so you're amplifying their comments in your mind. I sometimes do that

Cakeandslippers · 14/05/2023 08:44

If they are being intentionally mean then it's unacceptable and you need to address it, ideally directly first but if you don't feel able then through your manager. I did wonder though if they just think it's funny and don't realise it's upsetting you? When I did 3dpw my colleagues said stuff like this all the time but they meant nothing by it and I used to joke I couldn't wait to get away from them, have a relaxing break etc.

I have also learned to never say anything at work about it being hard work looking after kids. I had 2u2 and my days off were so much harder than work but any hint of that idea pisses a lot of people off for some reason. I think it might be mostly those without kids who can't imagine there being anything harder than being at work so they just don't believe it, or maybe there's another reason but either way I wouldn't try and use this as a way to explain why part time isn't all fun and games.

Good luck getting it sorted, it sounds like it's getting you down and no one needs that at work.

Tumbler2121 · 14/05/2023 08:43

When I was part time I'd say yes, great apart from half pay too. Never a problem .

The people you're working with are just plain unleasant, if it wasnt part-time comments, it would be something else for example, clothes, comments.

Get out if you can

Woolftown · 14/05/2023 08:43

I experienced this in the past. Apart from gritting your teeth, perhaps say something about what a shame it is that PTers are made to feel uncomfortable or discriminated against when we should all be supporting flexible working arrangements. You don’t know what you might need in the future. I needed more flexibility to care for an elderly relative (something else which doesn’t always get a lot of workplace empathy) and it is time people grew up a little.

pecantoucan · 14/05/2023 08:42

Endlesssummer2022 · 14/05/2023 08:40

I do find some PT workers are highly fixated on their contracted hours in ways FT aren’t. For example there are a couple of job sharers who are very ‘I only work Monday to 1pm Wednesday when I handover’. They won’t work an hour over. However, although it’s not ideal you’ll see the FT workers often going past 5/6pm or logging in again later after they’ve done school pick ups etc. Therefore the PT gets more pay per hour. But maybe it’s just a cultural thing in my organisation.

That's because people take the mick and ask of they can just do this that and the other.