To not correct neighbour's assumptions?

Either way, I wouldn't give a crap what they thought as they sound like right arseholes. Hope you enjoy your holiday. Ignore and avoid them as much as possible. Gits.

I used to get this from our neighbours. We have a disabled child and my husband goes out to work, so there would have been good reason for me not to work, although I do work part time from home. Were always making comments about how tired they were because they worked with that noted look at me. My husband mentioned I worked in conversation at some point and since then the attitude has changed and no more comments. I would slip it into conversation just to stop the condescension.

don't dare justify a damn thing to them. They will always be dicks no matter how much you explain, I'd go further and perpetuate the notion you don't work, claim everything, holiday extensively and let them seethe....

I don't think I'd bother saying anything to them about the fact that you're working full time. They sound the type (yes I'm judgemental here!) to not understand that WFH can mean you are working really hard. So even if you tell them you work full time you may still get a lot of chat about "but working from home must be easy" or some nonsense.

Just ask them what they mean by the work thing. Wait for the answer and don’t speak until they’ve given you the answer.

then if they say anything about not working, just say “I wish! I work full time and then some!”

Our neighbours didn't speak to us for four years because they assumed that I'm lazy (DH works full time but commutes).

Then one day they had a parcel of mine misdelivered, so the woman brought it round. I said thanks, sorry it took my a few minutes to get to the door, was in a meeting blah blah. She looked horrified and managed to splutter enough to ask me if I worked.

I told her yes, I work 40 hours a week, am doing my doctorate and volunteer for two charities, as well as being a parent and managing my disabilities, so I didn't have time to chat at the door...

Guess who tries to speak to me now, every time I leave the house? Judgy twat.

OP, sadly you just can't ever win with ignorant and stupid people. I have neighbours opposite who sound just like your neighbours - they don't believe I'm disabled because I can walk very short distances without a stick sometimes - I used to let it really upset but then I realised that their opinion means nothing to me and even if I spelt out the truth to them, they still wouldn't get it because they don't want to.

Only sad people make up entire stories in their heads about people that they don't even really know.

We actually live on a cul-de-sac of privately owned houses and the woman next door to me has sold hers to a HA and I actually really don't care - so long as they're nice people, I don't give a stuff about whether they own it or not. I'm looking forward to meeting them and I just hope they're happy living on this real-life Brookside Close (although those opposite me, like to think it's an "exclusive village").

Ignore the bigots and you just keep being the lovely, genuine person you so obviously are x

Op don't let your neighbours get under your skin. They sound totally and utterly absurd.

This.

“You know I work full time, right? You seem to be a little confused and keep making snide comments.”

Then chuckle, walk off, and never speak to the nasty twats again.

Look puzzled and say you do work. Only fans!

Definitely don't mention the wfh thing because people who don't wfh immediately think you're at their beck and call and you'll end up taking in parcels for the whole street, getting asked questions about what's been happening in the road, being blamed for not noticing xyz etc.

I would reply 'I wouldn't know I as I work full time!'

I’m sure they’d find something else to be resentful of. You can’t satisfy the perpetually bitter.

Ignore them and just live your own life. Even if you did explain to them, I very much doubt they would understand. As pp have said col and wfh are not exactly new concepts. They should thank their lucky stars they have a nice neighbour who cares about their home etc etc.

Tell them nothing.
Do not engage.

You're right OP. Don't correct them. Your life is none of their business. Let them assume and look like twunts doing it.

You don't owe twats any explanation, or even the time of day.

And they're not very bright twats either, as they didn't pick up on your “yes, it would be” comment.

Ignore them, why on earth would you want to be friendly to such judgmental lowlifes?

She's not. She's said it must be nice. They are not intelligent enough to work out what that implies.

I'd be ripping the piss out of them.
Are you looking forward to that week long all-inclusive break in the Maldives? Do you think they'll take in that parcel from Pandora while you're away? Make sure to apologise for any noise when the builders start on your conservatory next week.

I would tell her you do, in fact, work. It'll make her feel guilty for being passive aggressive. It's best to be on good terms with neighbours, even if they aren't pleasant people.

Three house owners on the estate I live on sold their houses to the local authority, those houses are nowt HA properties. These are four and five bedroomed homes, It happens more often you think.

Even when you own your own home people often comment about anything outside of a 9-5 office job as being leisurely. I can manage my time as I wish as long as the job is done but so many people think that this means I don't actually work or it is in some way not a proper job.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation op. I have been in a similar role to you, and people probably thought the same about me given I was still doing school runs in casual clothes most of the time.
I personally probably couldn’t let a comment like that go though, I’m sure it’s better to hold your head high and not care what they think. But the petty part of me wouldn’t want them to have the satisfaction. I would probably end up saying something like “oh, you’d be surprised - I work with a lot of people who would give their right arm to be able to work.”