Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'You can't get quality staff on part time hours'

59 replies

cakeandcustard · 09/12/2014 11:22

This was said to me at a recent job interview. The job was advertised at 0.6 fte but it was made clear at the interview that it would very soon be increased to full time because 'you can't get quality staff on part time hours'!!!

AIBU to think that just because I have commitments outside work (i.e. 3 DCs) and therefore wish to work for fewer than the regulatory 37.5 hours a week, that doesn't mean I am going to do a crap job? I applied for the job on the basis that the number of hours advertised would mean that I could fit it in around my family and still be able to give the best service in work that I am able to provide. (didn't get the job but wouldn't have taken it anyway as I need something part time!)

I'm getting increasingly frustrated trying to find a professional part time position (for which I'm very well qualified) as when I filter on part time contract all that seems to come up are low paid, unskilled and/or temporary.

AIBU to think that employers are missing out on a wealth of skills and expertise if this view is as prevalent as it seems to be.

OP posts:
MrsMook · 09/12/2014 16:52

I work 0.6 and end up more fresh than my collegues. Appointments are during non working time where possible, and DH takes up other commitments on my working days when necessary, knowing that he doesn't have to worry on the days I'm not working.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 09/12/2014 16:55

I think that part of the problem is that it is not industry standard to offer a FT requirement out to the market as PT/Job Share.

I've got a vacancy at the moment which I am finding v difficult to fill. Essentially I need someone with more experience than my budget allows. One potential way around this is to offer the role out as a 4 day job and try to find 20% capacity elsewhere in the team. I plan to discuss this with HR but I know that the immediate reaction is going to be Meh/that will be difficult/we've never done this before.

It's odd - plenty of roles go part time but are never advertised externally. I suspect that in most cases, someone is doing a FT job for 20% less which is why I've never seriously considered a 4 day week

As for your AIBU - that's a really illogical statement for your interviewer to make.

Surreyblah · 09/12/2014 16:56

Comments like that one at interview are sex discrimination.

Surreyblah · 09/12/2014 16:56

Since more PT workers are women.

Boomtownsurprise · 09/12/2014 17:00

Nosunday I was agreeing and carrying the sentiment on into my own experience....

rookietherednosedreindeer · 09/12/2014 17:07

Also DS has job share teachers this year.I was a little concerned about how it would work out, but it has been fabulous.

Both teachers bring different strengths to the job and they seem to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm which I think is strengthened by not being f/t( and a lot more organisational skills than his f/t male teacher last year which I had been really excited about).

zeezeek · 09/12/2014 18:41

It would depend on the job. I don't see why most professional or admin type jobs can't be done pt, but some, eg lab based research - it would be virtually impossible.

Mrscog · 09/12/2014 18:46

I didn't really explain myself very well. It's not an out and out ban on routine appointments. Just an expectation that they would be on a non working day where possible - just as FT staff are expected to do opticians on a Saturday, or book dr/dentist for as early or late in the day as possible.

I work somewhere with excellent pay and terms and conditions, and people seem happy to try and fit in with this request. As I said, any emergency needs and they get time off no questions asked (all paid), so I'm hardly an ogre!

SolidGoldBrass · 09/12/2014 18:56

I think part of the issue is the difficulty with mid-range type jobs - where the person doesn't earn enough (unlike directors/brain surgeons etc) to have full-time nannies or childminders, or be able to ring up an agency and book emergency childcare without worrying that they won't be able to pay the mortgage this month.
BTW I don't mean that directors and brain surgeons would just leave it all up to the nanny if DC were badly hurt or really ill, just that they would have someone who could pick up a kid from school when said kid is just a bit fluey or has thrown up...

TheChandler · 09/12/2014 19:12

An awful lot of managing directors are functionally part-time but don't get paid anything like part-time hours...

The "golf course effect" is something actually talked about in acquisitions and mergers as being a risk of loss of competition from the market.

Anyway, why didn't they just advertise it as a full time job in the first place?

YonicSleighdriver · 09/12/2014 19:24

Mrscog, I've always had contracts with a "beginning/end of working day preferred if not possible to arrange in non-work time" but most people who are part time are doing something on their non working days, whether caring or even working elsewhere if allowed, that precludes free rein on appointments on those days - toddlers and dental hygienists don't mix too well, for example!

Mrscog · 09/12/2014 19:31

Yes of course, that's never come up yet as none of my PT staff have a toddler! But that's the kind of thing where flexibility would be granted without additional question.

queenofthepirates · 09/12/2014 19:31

Nonsense, I employ an amazing pt co worker who has somewhere along the line, acquired the ability to read my mind and just be there when I need her. She is pt because she has health issues but I would be lost without her so I make sure I pay her above the average wage and that her working environment reflects her health issues.

Pico2 · 09/12/2014 19:34

My role was advertised as FT, plenty of people applied and the chose me doing 4 days over the FT applicants. Obviously there was a saving, but I think they also thought I was "quality".

I am very careful to ensure that I don't take the piss with appointments in work time and I am lucky in having family support to look after DD if she is ill. So I try not to work differently just because I have a DD.

I think I am fresher than I would be if I worked 5 days and more focused.

Stillwishihadabs · 09/12/2014 20:01

Come back to thread now. I have worked pt for 10 years in a variety of roles (all professional) one of my bosses used to say with me and my job share it was 2 for the price of one as we both brought qualities to the job. I do think that 2 people doing the job bring twice as much energy and rice as many ideas. Also you can't go home on a Wednesday or Friday leaving a mess for your other half so you tend to keep things in order.

Chunderella · 09/12/2014 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DrCoconut · 09/12/2014 20:25

Don't appointments, school plays etc come out of annual leave? I've not known a system where additional time off is given for them.

Tinks42 · 09/12/2014 20:26

I'm a part-timer and work my arse off when there, so do all the other part-timers whilst the "full-timers" go for 2 hour long breaks, and do fanny all when not lunching. YANBU.

redexpat · 09/12/2014 20:36

im sure i read somewhere about an agency for professional mums who want to work part time, and for small busnesses who couldnt afford ft. Might be worth a google.

Tinks42 · 09/12/2014 20:37

The full-timers are also very poorly rather a lot throw countless sickies and have appointments galore whilst us "part-timers" schedule everything for when we aren't working.

sleeplessbunny · 09/12/2014 20:39

I find this sort of attitude from employers very frustrating. I think it significantly contributes to the glass ceiling limiting (mainly women's) pt workers' career development.
From my experience pt workers put in more effort and get better results than ft.

zeezeek · 09/12/2014 21:13

Maybe the ft staff are sick because they are working extra hard to make up the work? It's a bit unfair to say that things are unfair for pt staff and then bitch about how ft staff take the piss by daring to be sick/stressed etc.

notquiteruralbliss · 09/12/2014 21:19

I am a contractor, so work on a day rate. If I liked a job I was offered but my usual rate wasn't within budget, I would be more than happy to consider creative options such as a 4 day week. What I wouldn't consider is accepting a reduced day rate in order to work part time.

If it suited me, and I felt that I could (for example) do a full time role in 4 days per week, I would present it as an opportunity for my client / employer to cut costs.

Tinks42 · 09/12/2014 21:36

Maybe the ft staff are sick because they are working extra hard to make up the work?

Not in my workplace, thats for sure.

GritStrength · 09/12/2014 21:37

Well when I'm recruiting for experienced professionals in my specialism if I were to advertise a role as part time I may get some good candidates keen on the role because of the hours. But most would be looking for full time roles and so I'd expect more quality candidates available for FT than PT.

Also unless there was a specific reason I wouldn't want to bring in pt professionals as the need for our services is FT and otherwise it puts more pressure on the rest of the team when they're not in. We have a job share arrangement going and recruited the second half due to the first persons request but normally I would only look for pt for existing staff who have a right to request it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread