Re attitude towards working part time

[shebird]

I am a bit just fed up with the attitude of some people when I say I work part time. I sometimes get sarcastic comments from clients or people at work saying 'oh I tried to call this morning but you I believe you don't start until 930' with a tone at implies I'm a complete slacker or comments like 'Oh that must be nice' or ' semi retired then' or ' half day again is it'. Arghhhhhh perhaps I'm being a bit sensitive but there is just no need for these comments.

Just remind them you get paid part-time wages where they are paid full-time.

You always get arrogant idiots making comments like that. I'm afraid you have to learn to ignore them.

I work part-time, but often answer client emails (bloody Blackberry!) on my non-working days. I do it because I'm committed to my job and I like to be on top of things with no surprises when I come back, but I don't get paid for it.

I work part time in a mainly part time sector. I check my work emails and take calls on my days off, because I can but don't assume other people do.

Exactly what I always say Tailtwister. Part time pay equals part time money.
Not that I work with irritating people like that, it's more just people in general. I work in a demanding job, I want to spend time with my dd I look after my MIL who has dementia....not that I need to justify myself, she says justifying herself!

I can see it could be frustrating for clients though?

This really irritates me. It's as though they assume I am getting the same wage as them whilst doing half the work. One guy really likes to dig at me about leaving before his shift ends. I do more work in my 6 hours than he does in his 10, the little shit. I don't stop to take a break, I work my arse off

I'm tempted to fashion myself a sign for my desk saying "Part-time ? lazy"

YANBU I agree but in a different way. DP works full time, I work part time but gladly do majority of childcare and house-holdy stuff. We 'shift swap' to avoid incurring massive childcare costs and get one whole day off as a family once every two weeks. Shifts work well for our family and its the only way to make ends meet at the moment. The attitudes of our parents to this is mental sometimes! When we say 'no, sorry we aren't free on x-day and two days notice of a demand for our attendence just isn't enough quite frankly as one/both of us is/are working' we get looked at like we are aliens or something. The very idea that we don't have entire weekends off every week is unthinkable to them, especially DP's parents. DMIL probably thinks I shouldn't be working at all!

Ignore, ignore, ignore is my motto!!

I get this ALL the time. I work 5 hours a day, most work 7 and a half. It's what the job was advertised at and it's what I'm paid for. But every week without fail someone will comment on me leaving early.

I work part-time and would never go back to full-time, I'm 51 and have worked since I was 16, the way I see it, I've done enough, paid enough taxes and am going to enjoy the rest of my life before I can't, so there (sticks two fingers up to government)

I probably achieve more in half a day than some of those working full time. I have to be super organised and I am constantly clock watching as I have to be finished in time for school pick up. I rarely take a break and probably spend less time on office chit chat and google than others. And no I am not heading home to put my feet up and watch cash in the attic

Yep been part time for 9 years now, I reckon I'm more productive than a full time person because I don't get a paid lunch break.

I work full time but mostly from home. I still get the 'fun comments'.

If I show up for any school runs or school events - it gets worse! I just say I've taken the day off rather than explain the previous late night I've pulled.

You can't win unfortunately. If you worked full time or became a Sahm you would still be criticised by some.

Hmm - I am in Belgium and still have not taken my parental leave yet - have 3 months to take before dd is 12. I can't take a month block in the summer due to other peoples holidays. And if I went 4/5ths (very common) for a year or so - I would still end up with the same work, but less pay. 2.5/5ths would probably have a really negative effect. Can't win sometimes. Pisses me right off. I would develop some really good put downs OP.

I work part-time post baby - not my choice, I was made redundant on my first day back! I promptly got taken back on freelance for proportionately more money :D luckily it's no one's business whether I'm busy with another client or with my DS if I can't get to their stuff straight away!

My DH is also self employed, he works somewhere where there are several related businesses and it drives them loopy that he shows up and does a focused few days instead of being there 10 hours a day 6 days a week (but mostly on Facebook...) He does work more than full time but he works from the bed or bath when he feels like it! And some charmers have told him to man up because he looks after DS every Tuesday and does about a third of night wakings!

If anyone is reckless enough to comment on my 3pm departure I am quick to point out they are free to join me, with the appropriate salary reduction.
Then I swan out with a huge smirk to doubly piss them off

Jean Seberg, if an employer has agreed that an employee can do part-time hours they have a responsibility for ensuring that clients are aware of this and have an alternative contact. I work part-time and my voicemail message and email signature have clear statements about my working hours and who to contact at other times.

When I worked 4 days a week I had a male colleague who genuinely didn't realise that I only got paid for 4 days. He thought I got a day off because I had kids. His attitude changed hugely when I explained. I wonder if there are others out there who are equally as uninformed?

No YANBU. It's all relative isn't it. My BIL works 70-hour or more weeks, most weeks. To him I'm sure 35-40 hours would feel part-time! Some people who work PT have huge, huge caring responsibilities and possibly feel they are 'working' or 'on call' all the time, 24/7. Some people work PT because they want to and can afford to and I say good luck to them!

I work part-time (post baby) and luckily haven't had any negative comments about it yet, in fact when I've emailed people on my days off I've had replies to say "don't worry about emailing me, I know you don't work today!".

AllMimsy Hopefully. I mentioned it because the OP said her customers were commenting that they weren't able to get hold of her before a certain time.

I hate "Oh you ONLY work paet time don't you" like I don't matter
However I do love leaving at 2 to pick up my gorgeous ds from school and appreciate I am very fortunate to be able to afford to do so - fuck 'em

That's the spirit!

Sadly we live in a society where your worth is measured by your job. Usually one of the first things most people ask someone they've not met before 'What do you do?'

I have worked part time since having the dcs, I would say I work harder and more productively than I ever did full time, all of the jobs I have done pt had previously had someone in a ft role in them previously.

My voicemail and email both detail when I am in the office and alternative people to contact when I am not in so there is no need for clients to feel abandoned when I am not at work. There are some people who are never happy even if you are there 24/7 and a put down about being part time is probably just jealousy anyhow

I definitely agree on the productivity. Always get more done when I know I have to leave by x time and who the hell can be effective for 10/12 hours every day?