Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or over sensitive re comments about PT work?

138 replies

Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 07:49

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.

OP posts:
crikeycrumbsblimey · 14/05/2023 08:41

A friends theory on people who moan a lot is that this is a boring persons way of making conversation.

They sound dull.

i complained when they happened to me as an external consultant didn’t like the fact I was part time - well they can fuck off as none of their business. Between him and someone else internal it was a mechanism to blame things going wrong on something. However I could prove it was because they weren’t doing things properly. Busted!

pecantoucan · 14/05/2023 08:41

EsmeSusanOgg · 14/05/2023 08:19

A year? This is not OK OP.

You need to write a polite email to HR. Explain you have tried to politely deflect, but the comments have not stopped and it makes it a very hostile environment to work in.

Show quote history

Yes do this.

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.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 14/05/2023 08:39

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!"

This is precisely what I did in the past…”are you jealous of my work/life balance? would you like to see my payslip, nothing to stop you dropping your hours too”, and it did shut them up very quickly

electriclight · 14/05/2023 08:36

"Can you please stop going on about my working arrangements. It's none of your business."

You could try this. It would probably make them stop so you would be happy. But they'd be laughing behind your back at the ridiculous over-reaction.

legalseagull · 14/05/2023 08:34

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.

"Can you please stop going on about my working arrangements. It's none of your business."

electriclight · 14/05/2023 08:34

I find it hard to believe that people are being genuinely, intentionally nasty about the fact that you work part time.

Surely this is just the sort of light hearted comment a full time employee might make when a part time employee says 'actually I won't be in tomorrow' or 'see you next week' as they leave work on a Wednesday afternoon.

Similar to 'another one?!' said to the colleague who has lots of holidays, borne out of envy or maybe pretending to be envious because that's what's expected when talking to someone who reminds you that they're in an enviable position.

Original poster
Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:31

i don’t think anything I say will shut them up. I think I’d either have to go down the semi formal route of having them spoken to by a LM or grit my teeth and put up with it. It’s horrible though, it’s no wonder hardly any men go part time Hmm

OP posts:
CheshireDing · 14/05/2023 08:28

Can you not just say ‘oh do stop keep going on about it’ when they next make comment

Will the embarrassment not shut them up ?

tiggergoesbounce · 14/05/2023 08:27

Just tell people that if they are struggling to complete their own workload, then they need to escalate that to management, thats not down to you and if they are just commenting for the sake of it, then just agree, yes i am lucky to be able to do the work life balance i like.

You don't have to feel bad for being able to do the balance you want. It's a good thing for you and its ok to admit that, if they are the ones bringing it, its not like you could be seen to be putting it in their faces.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 14/05/2023 08:25

I get the same I work 0.6 with two preschool children.

It's jealously (although I would argue work is easier than being with the kids 4 days 😂) I just say you can do it too you just have to accept the massive wage drop. Shuts them up quickly.

Original poster
Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:24

I think that’s the thing … it started in September and now in May it’s really worn so thin.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 14/05/2023 08:23

My old boss, who had approved my hours, used to be such a bitch about it. I ignored him but it does get to you after a while.

PinkCherryBlossoms · 14/05/2023 08:23

Iwrote · 14/05/2023 07:55

I used to work with a few horrible bitchy women who would make comments about my part time work. I tried stating I only received half pay, I was busy with small children etc.
In the end I got so fed up I'd just breeze out and when they started bitching say "Oh I know, part time reeeeaaally is the best, you should try it!".
They were bitter bitches, there was no way to win them round.

This is what I'd do. Trowel it on. If they're jealous and won't trouble to hide it, give them something to be jealous about.

Original poster
Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:21

I hate to break it to you sure Hmm

I really am tempted to bring it up with my line manager to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bluerossettes · 14/05/2023 08:20

Well no, it doesn’t excuse rudeness. If people have too much work to do they need to raise this with the relevant people, not me!

But it isn’t a workload issue. I am a teacher.

OP posts:
Sometimeswinning · 14/05/2023 08:19

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 hate to break it to you but if you escalate this they are going to find other ways to target you. Just have a one sentence reply.
"Yep love it!"
"Less time with you lot."
Stop explaining yourself to them or engaging about it.
Start looking for a new job. You are never going to be happy there.

TiredOfCleaning · 14/05/2023 08:19

TBH at this point I would just confront them. 'Why do you keep makng comments about this? Are you jealous? Are you trying to imply I am not committed/ Do you think you have the right to pass comments on every person or just me? I am confused as to why you keep commenting and it is starting to feel like harrassment. Is this something I need to talk to HR about?'

I'm too old to put up with shit anymore tbh. Just go for it.

EsmeSusanOgg · 14/05/2023 08:19

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.

A year? This is not OK OP.

You need to write a polite email to HR. Explain you have tried to politely deflect, but the comments have not stopped and it makes it a very hostile environment to work in.

Henowner · 14/05/2023 08:19

You don't need to justify with colleagues why you work part time. I would just laugh in their faces when they make bitchy comments 😂

100daystogo · 14/05/2023 08:18

I work 3 days and the sad fact is I am super lucky. I can afford to drop the days but mainly it’s because it’s super unheard of in my company. Massive FTSE100 company and i know of one other person on 3 days within 1000s of employees. It’s frowned upon and would get rejected in lots of departments.

I think a lot of people would like to drop their hours but fear / loss of money / loss of career progression puts them off. It’s just jealousy.

Businessflake · 14/05/2023 08:15

OP have you always been PT or is this a recent change? And if a recent change what has the company done to reallocate your work?

So often nothing is done about this and it impacts others on the team. Doesn’t excuse rudeness though but can impact team dynamics.

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
TiredOfCleaning · 14/05/2023 08:10

FatCatSkinnyRat · 14/05/2023 07:53

I am also part time - 0.5 FTE. I often get comments on it too, esp now my kids are teenagers and mostly self reliant.

To snarky comments about how lucky I am, I say "Don't forget I only get half the pay"

Good response.

I am just jealous of anyone who works PT as i hate my job.

Or you could follow my father's advice for people who make unwanted comments; 'Tell 'em, fuck 'em'

Dacadactyl · 14/05/2023 08:09

I'd just let them complain tbh. So what? They're just jealous.