Would you judge someone for working part time (no kids)?

[whatevertrevor84]

What are your thoughts on someone who chooses to work part time (say, four days per week), but who does not have kids, so no childcare excuse? In fact no real "excuse" just would like to have a bit more time off? Context is professional career (law, accountancy etc) in London. Would you think they were lacking in ambition or not serious about their career? Be honest... you'd probably hate them wouldn't you?!

Surely your happiness and well being is worth 100 x more than what any bugger thinks if you want to reduce hours speak to your manager and do it. A few people i know either with or without children at home work 4 days or pt

Not at all. I know someone who wanted to work part time because their partner had a job where they were away for weeks at a time so she wanted to be able to make the most of the weeks when he was home. Totally reasonable to me. Also know someone who found her high pressured job meant she found it hard to unwind at weekends. She was just about ready to relax by the time Sunday came around so felt she got no down time. By working 4 days a week (Fridays off) she was able to enjoy her weekends again.

I think we should work to live not live to work so I'm all for getting a better work life balance and I think working part time gives that. Don't think you need children to justify it.

I started working part time in my late twenties before kids or anything, professional career aswell, had climbed ladder, got experience behind me, we were just in a position where I could and Ive honestly never ever looked back. Now Im mid thirties and pregnant and dont have to worry about reducing hours or changing anything for my return to work (which I want to do for my own sanity and really enjoy my work). Everyone just says how jelous they are and they would do it if they could aswell. Only downside is there isnt as much opportunity for promotion part time and my ambition hasnt waned, I just enjoy a good balance in life. Go for it!

I used to work PT 5 days a week, 8:30 until 1:30, only because I couldn't find something FT. However that being said, I bloody loved it!

That's tough housewife. Really we shouldn't give a f**k what people think, but we do don't we. And people can be horrible and very judgmental - often because they are jealous! I think I need to learn how to let go and care less. No idea where to stay with that.

*start

Some people just don't want to be ambitious. If you can do a job in 4 days, why not? Life is too short for full time for some people.

When DS gets older, I still can't see myself working full time.

I do 4 days and I have grown up children. Best thing ever. Everyone should do 4 days. Professional office job.

It seems strange that someone with the intellect to work in such a high flying career, would delay doing what they want for fear of what other people think.

Hmm, for an intelligent person that sounds crazy.

No, no one would hate you, most people won't care or will be envious.

Chill out, start doing what YOU want, seriously.

Be YOU, not THEM

Plenty of people work part time in my sector (academia), and I'd not even give a thought to why they worked reduced hours - probably wouldn't even ask about kids/caring responsibilities etc. But you know your workplace and your sector best, and only you could assess whether it's likely to put an additional stress on your team or mean that senior colleagues assume you're not ambitious.

I work 4 days in a professional role and it doesn't affect career prospects as much as you'd think. I do have a 1 year old which is why I went part time to spend a day with him, but I work with other people who work 4 days with no children just for a bit of balance. Some I can think of did it because they had elderly parents they wanted to spend time with or a sporting hobby that was quite time consuming. If you want to and can afford it, go for it!

I cut down to 4 days in my last job. I don't have DC of my own but have step DC and I just wanted some down time to myself during the week. My immediate colleagues were a little envious but not funny about it. Do it if you can.

I work pt and wouldn't consider doing any more than this unless for some reason I had to.
2 of our dc are grown up now and the other is a boarder.
I started work in November after not working at all for 25 years.
I couldn't give a flying fuck what others thought, it's my life.

Whatever I am an accountant. I used to work in practice for one of the big firms and it was hell. They claim to support flexibility but they don't at all, and then scratch their heads as to why there are only a tiny percentage of senior women with families! But in industry and the third sector there are much more interesting, flexible roles with better working environments and that also pay much more.

Erm, I absolutely did this before kids. I worked four days, evening shifts, and had basically every day of the week off, plus three nights too. Tiny flat. Tiny bills. Just me and my tiny self. I LOVED it. I got to do all kinds of stuff - went on holidays, to the cinema, wrote memoirs, slept in, read book after book in the garden, drove to anywhere that took my fancy whenever I liked, basically lived the life of an independently wealthy woman who just happened to be quite frugal, had an absolute blast. I am more than glad I did, because I am now the pin-up of the successful career woman with a family, and I am glad I got to have my slice of doing-fuck-all pie before I got to the extra big slice of doing-fucking-everything pie.

I worked 4 days per week up until recently..but these were long 10 hour + days. I now work 5 days a week and am exhausted. 50 hours a week. I'd do anything to go back to 4 days a week but without wanting to out myself it isn't logistically do able at the moment. I have no kids. I used to have Fridays off and it was great. I felt like I deserved though as full time hours are technically 37 hours and I was working more than this over 4 days. I hope to return to 4 days a week in the future.

I have a colleague in her mid 40's who only works three days a week, no kids, no health issue reasons for it, she simply can afford to. She recently inherited a house worth £400k so sold her one bed flat and moved in to the inherited house so now she's mortgage free. Lucky bitch :)

I'm fresh from judging someone on a benefit fraud thread and I'm not going to stop for something as trivial as this so, yes. Judge the fuckers.

I aspire to go part time when I am older. I think it'd be nice.

What are your thoughts on someone who chooses to work part time (say, four days per week), but who does not have kids, so no childcare excuse?

I am thinking that I am perfectly within my rights to do it. Why would I think otherwise?

No, it's up to you! There are many ways to live a life which differs from what some rigid thinkers feel is the only acceptable "default" to aim for.

No I woulden't, there might be a whole list of reasons for working part time.

I work three days a week, no children. I do it for my own health and wellbeing.

I get a lot of stick for it, but people can think what the fuck they like. I need to do what's best for me.

I work 30 hrs per week and because i finish early people assume i have kids, i dont. I do my hours as im a carer for my partner but i dont want to have to explain that to everyone. Sometimes i just let them think i have kids as its easier than talking bout the real reason. If you can afford to go part time, do it!

I work part time in a managerial role and spend the rest of the time running my own creative business from home. I love it and plan to eventually go full time self-employed. I have faced some questions (especially from older relatives) who see this as a strange choice and expect me to be more ambitious to climb the career ladder... But I honestly have no wish to do 40 hour weeks in some huge office, quality of life matters much more. I'm lucky to be able to afford to do this of course, not everyone could.