to think that term time, office hours work is not really 'full time'?

[GuybrushThreepwoodMightyPirate]

I'm not saying it's exactly part time, but if you work in the school office from 9-5 or similar (no evenings, no weekends, no taking your work home with you, no overtime) then AIBU to say that this isn't the same as a full time job? 13 weeks of holiday a year!

Before I get flamed I am not remotely saying that teaching isn't full time. I am a teacher so I know how it rules your evenings, weekends and 'holidays' with planning, marking, meetings, extra curricular etc.

I only ask as I had to bite my tongue when talking to a colleague in the school office recently who moaned about her tiring full time job. I'm not after a bun fight about who has the hardest job with the longest hours and fewest holidays, just clarification on this niche situation.

Anyone working term-time only in a school office is paid part-time.

It sounds pretty full time to me, and it sounds as if you're over working rather than she is under working.

Surely we should be trying to get to a place where it is standard to "leave work at the office" apart from on the odd occasion with tight deadlines / important issues? Why does it have to be a race to the bottom?

Loads and loads of people work full time 9 to 5,9 to 6, etc etc and never take work home, never have to be on call, never have to put in any additional extras etc. Some have 18 days annual a year and some 6 weeks plus.

This does not make them any less full time.

My SIL works like this with 6 weeks holiday a year and also takes additional unpaid leave to see family overseas. She is very obviously lucky that her current employer allows her and is able to let her do this. She still works full time.

I get what you say 13 weeks holiday is definately above the average for a full time job but term time she is most definately working a full time job.

I think you are splitting hairs a bit and to be honest you sound jealous or envious of your colleague. Why does someone classing themselves as full time with her hours/days work a year bother you so much?? Are you really unhappy in your job? Why do you have such a need to diss this colleague?

If its her hours you want the keep your eyes peeled for other similar jobsin your area! Term time jobs are very rare and sought after though because it suits so many parents!

I'm a teacher and I think YABU. She does full time hours. I'd never dream of suggesting our admin staff are part time because they are term time only and I'd be pretty pissed off if the admin staff on 52 week contracts suggested that I was part time because I have all those holidays. Yes I use a chunk of them planning and marking and yes I work very long hours in term time but that doesn't give me the right to disparagingly refer to other full time staff as part time just because they aren't teachers. Threads like this just contribute to the bad reputation we have for whinging about how hard we have it. You have said that that's not what this thread is about but the undertone of the OP is "how dare this person compare their job to mine which is obviously much harder".

I disagree with posters suggesting that 'woe betide the person who dare slag off school staff' as well. I would be just as in the wrong to suggest that the checkout staff at sainsburys have no right to be tired at the end of the week as all they've done is sit on their arse all day beeping shopping through.

On one hand you YANBU, as school office hours are slightly less than full time when taken over the year. However, in term time, if she works 9-5 then in a sense that is full time.

The job may not have the same pressures as teaching, no. BUT in terms of financial reward it is bloody hard work for the money! Our admin staff in the school I work at are fab, and deal with far more than they are actually contracted to do!

Can't you just ignore someone you disagree with? Esp. A casual acquaintance at work who is making chitchat? YABU to get het up about it.

Around here the oil rig workers do 2 wks on+2 wks off in 2 or 3 cycles, then 2 wks on followed by 4 weeks off. They do 12 hour days without a day off during the 2 weeks on (168 hours / 2 wks). Looks like a FT equivalent job to me in spite of the 24+ weeks off each yr.

I would say she has a full time job . How is working over three quarters of the year 9 till 5 not a full time job? Same as any other office worker.

YABU and it was probably best you didn't say anything for your own sake.

It's not full time, as in year round.

I don't know how anyone completes any work in a school office, with a constant stream of interruptions from parents, children, staff and visitors.
It is certainly full-time during term-time. (teacher myself, school secretary's daughter).
TAs however, are another matter, (with a few notable exceptions), unless they are doing unqualified teaching/cover, which they shouldn't be expected to do.

HLTAs are often expected to teach - part of the job role.

I'm not after a bun fight about who has the hardest job with the longest hours and fewest holidays

Except it does sound like you are.

You are BU to think her hours are not full time.
30+ hours a week (on the weeks you work) counts as full time as far as WTC goes. So going by that yardstick she definitely works full time.

Lots of people work term time only - including myself (and I don't work in a school or education). Most who 'choose' too, also have dc or family to run round after which can also be exhausting.

People become exhausted for all kinds of reason, their job may just be one factor.

Personally I've became increasingly exhausted, particularly this last year. Having been a lone parent for 16 years now, increasing my hours from 21 when ds was 5 to now working 30 hours a week, with 40 min school run either side, and everything else falling to me (including all child care in the holidays), and never getting a break or very much help. It's relentless and exhausting.
I've now found out I actually have cancer and am having treatment for that. Probably the main reason why I've been so exhausted and stuggling to cope this last year.

So think carefully before you judge someone elses exhausted state at their 'part time job' as not being valid.

If the office staff are so much better off with their hours then leave teaching and go and work in a school office?

YABU, I consider 9-5 to be full time whether it is term time only or not. Working in a school office must be very tough as some parents treat you like rubbish, some teachers treat you like a skivvy and you get the pleasure of dealing with ill (often puking) children who have parents that won't keep them at home when they should.

Op, if you find full time teaching too hard why don't you look for a part time job or find a job that is 'only' 9-5 outside education?

Working in a school office means you only get paid for 39 weeks a year so technically speaking it is not 13 weeks "holiday" it's 3 months unpaid leave that you have no felixibility with and in which all holidays are more expensive! You may work hard, she probably also works hard, just because she doesn't do the same job as you does not mean she can't occasionally say she is tired as well... In all honesty she was probably only making small talk. If you are as busy as you say then I'm surprised you have time to worry about other peoples energy levels...,

Full-time, part-time . . . you can't do your job without the admin staff.