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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

139 replies

whatevertrevor84 · 23/04/2017 15:26

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?!

OP posts:

Pigface1 · 23/04/2017 17:01

OP, I've been thinking about this more since posting and not only would I not hate a colleague who did this, I honestly think the City professions (and many other areas of work) would be better places if more childless/single people did feel able to seek PT work. There's a stigma attached to PT working at present - it's something women do once they've had kids, when they can't hack the hours anymore (this is why you don't want to hire women of childbearing age btw, they just get lazy) - you know what I mean. If more single, childless people were to stand up and say 'actually, I don't have kids, but I don't want to work these hours any more either' then I reckon we'd see a gradual but significant culture shift - and it would be positive for everyone, childless or not.

trilbydoll · 23/04/2017 17:02

Will your employer let you go part time? If the team is already overstretched? They have to consider it, they don't have to say yes.

Oblomov17 · 23/04/2017 17:04

I've worked part time, 3 days, for the last 14 years, since first maternity leave. I don't ever intend to work full time again.
I'm staggered by your assumptions and views OP. Even if you don't have kids, why work full time if you don't have to?

Atenco · 23/04/2017 17:08

Unless you do something anti-social or unethical, why should you care what other people think? That is a hide onto nothing.

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:12

My main reservation has been fear of being hated / judged

It's a valid reservation

When I worked PT in my previous profession those of us who were PT had to work twice as hard just to justify our existence, and even so werent considered for career progression and had plenty of comments from line managers like "I know you have other commitments but we really need you to make this a priority.." when we'ld been doing so much unpaid overtime that we'ld done more real hours than the FTers

Also when they accepted my PT request, they didn't hire anyone else for the other half of my job, so I was basically doing a full time workload on part time pay

When they spoke about other part-timers in my present every sentence ended with "… but she is part time so you'll probably have to email her and hope she pickes it up" when said person was in the office as they spoke… on her day off.. and answered all emails instantly 7 days a week….

I still work PT elsewhere, and I don't get a hard time and am not expected to work twice as hard just to prove my worth, so it's much better. Progression is however off the cards unless I up my hours (which I don't want to do at the moment and am fine with that)

LookMoreCloselier · 23/04/2017 17:19

They will consider your request but given what you have said, are you sure your employer would say yes?

I have worked part time for years, I have had 1 promotion in that time but I wouldn't make the next step up to manager level very easily without going FT. I get comments pretty much every week 'going home already?' 'pfft part timers!' and so on, it's done in jest though. I won't go back to FT for years as I consider the flexibility my employer gives me to be the biggest benefit and I am not in any hurry to progress to the next level.

You also need to consider that you might end up squeezing your FT role into PT hours which can be very stressful, or working extra hours to catch up with the work.

Whathaveilost · 23/04/2017 17:21

i used to care what people thought about me. Nowadays, not so much.
This maybe lingering over from my depression but I think we will all be dead one day so what people think about me,unless I put myself forward for judging,doesn't make any difference to me.

This has served me well for example I had to go into a training room where there was a manager who I hadn't seen in 18 months. In fact the last time I had seen him was just before I put in a grievance about him. Years ago I would have been nervous about bumping into him again. This time I just thought tossed, you'll be dead one day as well!

Maybe not a traditional way of seeing things but it works for me!!

RortyCrankle · 23/04/2017 17:25

I wouldn't judge anyone for doing that provided they were financially self sufficient and not in receipt of benefits.

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:25

You also need to consider that you might end up squeezing your FT role into PT hours which can be very stressful, or working extra hours to catch up with the work.

Also, any team meetings, team training, marketing meetings or events that were on and fell outside of PTers work days, we had to attend! it was in our contracts. We didn't get any over time for this. The FTers got to leave their other duties and attend these things as paid time.

Be very careful with a PT contract. Interrigate it, ask how the rest of the full time equivalent of the role will be filled

MeadowDream · 23/04/2017 17:29

I currently work 30 hours a week and have done for past six months. I have no children (yet) and find people who I barely know feel it's normal to ask me why I'm only part time when I have no children. I don't feel it's any of their business really but they are genuinely shocked to find this out.
It's a better work life balance, and if I'm honest I don't like my job enough to want to do the extra hours right now. I manage on the money I bring home so why not.
Taking 30 hours was the only way for me to get a permanent contract at the time which I need as I'm applying for a mortgage. I am waiting to start another job where I will be full time again, but being part time for a while has been a welcome break for me

SpreadYourHappiness · 23/04/2017 17:32

I wouldn't judge anyone for doing that provided they were financially self sufficient and not in receipt of benefits.

And what about people on ESA who can only work part time due to health issues, physical or mental? Would you judge them too?

beargrass · 23/04/2017 17:33

My only reservation would be working effectively working full time but getting paid part time for it. It's really hard to scale down to four days and actually do four days' worth of work. But I would do it if I could, yes. Why not?

Whathaveilost · 23/04/2017 17:41

After reading pigface's post claiming there is a stigma attached to part timers and an expectation that it women after having children that do this has got me thinking If jobs here I know personally know part time workers that are male and there are loads. Firstly within my job area. There are pt male TA's , social workers, family support workers. ( I work for the LA btw) our direct services ( joiners, bin men etc) has pt staff and that is a very male dominated team.
Our children's services has male casual staff in the residential homes and so does the disability units.
Within my social group one male friend has opted to stay as a self employed contractor so he can pick and choose when he wants to work and another friend is happy working for any agency and work when ever work comes in for him despite a couple of companies offering him full time work with them.

The reasons are, in no particular order

It suits their lifestyle, save up enough money, travel, come back work and go again

Wife works full time, he's around to do the school run and assemblies etc

Don't need as much money

Studying for a degree

Don't like the job enough to do it full time but like the perks associated with it.

Nobody cares why they do it really.

Whathaveilost · 23/04/2017 17:43

I wouldn't judge anyone for doing that provided they were financially self sufficient and not in receipt of benefits

Bit of a loaded statement there!! What about child benefit? Are you objecting to that as well!

SpreadYourHappiness · 23/04/2017 17:45

Nobody cares why they do it really.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are judgemental twats and they do care .

TinselTwins · 23/04/2017 17:45

30 hours is technically full time hours, although in most organisation their full time contracts start at around 40hrs, 30 is still technically full time, it's just a "reduced contract" in most work places.

limon · 23/04/2017 17:46

I worked four days a week before I had kids at one point . I could afford it. No one's business

TheDevilMadeMeDoIt · 23/04/2017 17:47

Just one thing OP - if you go to part time Monday-Thursday, don't spend Thursday going around saying to everyone you see 'This is my Friday you know'

Not bitter memories of a twattish former colleague, oh no.

bear28 · 23/04/2017 18:01

im 28 and work 3 full days a week then an hour on thursdays and fridays. There is more to life than work. yes we need to work to pay bills but thats all they do. my partner works away for extremely long lengths of time so we need to make the most of our time when he is home, and me being at work full time 5 days a week isn't what either of us want. we are fortunate enough that i can work part time. If anyone judged me i'd tell them to get stuffed. Life is about living and enjoying your loved ones and family, not slaving away, being spoken to like a piece of crap.

Frazzled2207 · 23/04/2017 18:15

Sounds great if you can afford it. We have friends in switzerland and they tell us that it's considered very normal out there to work "80%" regardless of children situation

Damselindestress · 23/04/2017 18:45

None of my business. I would never judge someone for working part time, especially as there might be health reasons. I guess if the workplace environment is quite competitive then colleagues might judge someone for working part time but I think that's wrong. I think the idea that more hours in the office means more productive needs to change, some people work most efficiently part time or from home.

cheminotte · 23/04/2017 19:23

Great idea. I believe in Germany everyone has the right to work 80%. I also worked at a company where it was policy for people to reduce their hours in the last 5 years before retirement so they could get used to it.

RortyCrankle · 23/04/2017 19:34

SpreadYourHappiness Sun 23-Apr-17 17:32:13
And what about people on ESA who can only work part time due to health issues, physical or mental? Would you judge them too?

Obviously not but OP has made no mention of health issues. I was answering her question, not sure why I should add caveats for other scenarios that aren't relevant.

TurquoiseDress · 23/04/2017 19:42

I think I'd envy them really!

Unless they disclose, there's no way of knowing why they choose to work "part-time" even if they are still putting in long hours in a 4 day week.

They may have a chronic illness or caring responsibilities for a sick relative. Having young children is not the only reason to work less than full time.

People can make all the judgements they want, if it's the right thing for that person it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

CreamCheez · 23/04/2017 19:46

I've always worked whatever way suits me at the time. It's never occurred to me what others think... Never had any plan on life, I just enjoy myself. Money comes & goes, that's the nature of it. Sometimes I work more, sometimes less.

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