Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you deal with "Part-timer" remarks

61 replies

SinisterBumFacedCat · 19/12/2017 18:42

A colleague keeps making remarks about me working part time. It's very subtle criticism, like me not knowing certain things because I'm only in part time, or saying everyone else is in every day (I'm not the only part timer in the company) down to the "jokey" what do you do all day and suggestions that I'm lazy if I haven't managed to do something at home that week. It's been going on on ages now and I've started to realise that it's every day that I go in there's at least one comment or more.

Does anyone else working part time have colleagues who do this? How do you respond? I can't go to HR - she is HR! And also good friends with my line manager. DH says I should play on it and go on about all the reading, watching tv and generally laying about I do on my days at home, but I don't know if this will just aggravate things.

OP posts:
Greyponcho · 19/12/2017 18:44

Are you in a union?
Is she like this with the other part timers?

ErnestTheBavarian · 19/12/2017 18:46

I work pt. In my place of employment this is relatively rare. No one has ever commented on it.

I wouldn't join in with jokes or anything. Are you confident enough to just ask her directly to stop it?

WeirdCatLady · 19/12/2017 18:47

I’d go with a saccharine sweet, head tilted to one side ‘you seem obsessed with my working hours hun, is everything okay with you?’, add in a tinkly laugh too

AnyFucker · 19/12/2017 18:48

"How about we swop salaries" ?

Or simply "give it a rest, will ya"

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 19/12/2017 18:48

I had this in my last job, I made noises about being so efficient that I can do the job of a full-timer in just 3 days. One person used to always say "Are you off again tomorrow?" Re Fridays which weren't my working day. I'd reply "are you off again on Saturday and Sunday". "I'm not off, I don't work weekends". "Precisely"

Used to give me the rage.

Invisimamma · 19/12/2017 18:49

My workplace are generally very good as there are lots of part time staff. I have had the odd jibe when leaving early ‘off already’ or ‘you away again’ etc.

I just ignore or reply that I also get paid part time wages so if they want to forgo part of their salary they can go part time too Hmm. Usually quietens any remarks.

tired17 · 19/12/2017 18:49

I'm with your DH on this one, when I worked part time I would just go along with the comments and then breezily say "have a good weekend" as I sailed out of the office on Wednesday lunchtime.

ApocalypseNowt · 19/12/2017 18:51

Yep. Agree with other posters....say you only get paid a part time wage. Or broken record her with "Can you please stop mentioning my working hours, you do it a lot" EVERY time she makes a comment.

TrojansAreSmegheads · 19/12/2017 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Autocorrectible · 19/12/2017 18:55

Yep, I get this too. Gives me the absolute rage. There is a woman in my team who is OBSESSED with my working pattern, and seems to insinuate I take too many holidays (because I work 3 days a week, when I take 3 days holiday, it actually amounts to a week and a half off). She makes all sorts of comments, and has actually upset me so much in the past that i’ve cried on the way home. I’m now older and wiser and am just purting it down to jealously

HemanOrSheRa · 19/12/2017 18:59

A colleague of mine used to make comments about me working part time. I and asked her if she realised that I only got paid for the hours I worked. I didn't get paid full time wages but only work part time!

A couple of times I said 'I beg your pardon? What did you say? What do you mean by that?' Which was quite funny as she clearly felt very uncomfortable Grin. Luckily I have a lovely supervisor and I mentioned it to him. He told her to cut it out and it stopped.

Original poster
SinisterBumFacedCat · 19/12/2017 19:00

I'm not in a Union.

Like the "part time wages" comment!

OP posts:
CherryChasingDotMuncher · 19/12/2017 19:03

Do you put into a tea and coffee fund? I'd make snarky remarks every time she makes a cuppa about how you're subsidising her drinks Grin

cryingbehindsunglasses · 19/12/2017 19:04

Yes I used to this as the only part timer at work.
And like others have said I just reminded them that I was actually earning half what they were. I also told them what I did on my 'days off' (look after my disabled child) and that soon shut them up!

AnnabelleLecter · 19/12/2017 19:07

I had this in my previous job.
One day I said "Do you have a problem with me working part-time?"
Of course she said no and never mentioned it again.
In this job I have now 80% of the staff are part time.

gillybeanz · 19/12/2017 19:15

I'd just say, it's great not HAVING to work all week.
It's only jealousy.
Add that you are a work to live kind of person and being pt gives you enough to live.
How you pity the live to work people. Grin

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 19/12/2017 19:21

I used to get this when I started later than everybody else. I was taken on for those hours, I never negotiated them. Plus I used to finish later than everybody else! I tried to point this out but it turns out you can't argue with stupid.

In my case it was several people so I left and got a lovely new job with a promotion and a pay rise. Best revenge ever!

redexpat · 19/12/2017 19:33

What did you say? What exactly do you mean by that? Why do you ask? What I do on my own time is my business. I dont wish to discuss that with you. Keep a diary of incidents just in case this continues. I think one enquiry when you start working with someone is ok - what do you do on your days off/when youre not here? - but anything more is a bit much.

EmilyChambers79 · 19/12/2017 19:37

I got this a lot.

Next time the girl made a comment about it time was in front of the Manager. I was leaving at the end of my shift on Thursday and wouldn't be back in until Tuesday. The girl said, "see you later part timer" so I just turned round and said to my Manager, "I think X is depserate to go part time, she can't stop commenting on my hours".

Boss said, "you can do part time if you want X?"

X nearly had a shit fit because she can't afford to work part time and never said anything about it again.

I've had other people say stuff and I play up to it. Things like, I know it's great, I love my four days off etc.

ApplesTheHare · 19/12/2017 19:38

I used to say my employer was paying 50% of my salary and getting 100% of my ideas Grin

Believeitornot · 19/12/2017 19:39

I just smile and say I’m not paid for my non working day. (I don’t call it my day off).

I also say that they should reduce their hours if they so wish. Jump on the bandwagon.

Justabadwife · 19/12/2017 19:43

I get this all the time at work.
I say things like.
Seems you have missed me in the 3 days I have been off
You couldn't cope with me if I worked full time
I enjoy being at home too much
I dont want to see your face everyday
Etc etc etc

healthyheart · 19/12/2017 19:44

apples love it!

OuchBollocks · 19/12/2017 19:46

I always say "there's nothing stopping you applying to lose a third of.your monthly salary you know." That tends to shut them up sharpish.

DeathByMascara · 19/12/2017 19:46

I find a swift ‘fuck off’ does the trick.

Or, when it doesn’t, pointing out to said person that I really dislike them commenting on my working hours all the time. It makes me feel as though I don’t work as hard, which is far from the case. Said person nearly shit themselves, apologised profusely and never mentioned it again.

Swipe left for the next trending thread