How do you deal with "Part-timer" remarks

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

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.

I forgot to state the obvious which is that you can give this as an example during the training! No need to name her. Just give an e.g. of “commenting negatively on colleagues working arrangements” as an example of a microbehaviour. Calling her out, cleverly. Just make sure she attends!

I have come to the conclusion that some people honestly don't grasp that when you work part time you don't get to keep a full time salary. Very true treacle. It's very odd.

I used to get this! I use to try and explain all the time I was my mums carer and use to help out on my husbands business and I actually never get any time off! Then one day I just stopped and said, ooh yes I cudnt work full time imagine! Not for me! Bye everyone really loud !

Xx

I have also had comments from extended family about my "early retirement"... I am in my 30s and I work on average 24 hours a week as two 12 hours shifts, and choose to live a life of less consumerism/ materialism which consequently requires less money and leaves a lower carbon footprint, compared to the relative in question who has lived in a series of excessively big houses, with everything just so and to a very high spec.

This thread reminded me of that comment, and now I am pissed off about it all over again!!

I work part time for health reasons (sadly no kids), I've never got any comments, my colleagues are great, but it's undeniable that not being full time can inconvenience my workmates. I only get paid for 4 days, but that's only 4 days that I'm there to do the work - so when there are meetings or deadlines that I'm not there to contribute to, my colleagues have to pick up the slack. Meetings I have to attend can't be scheduled for Fridays - so my working patterns have a knock on effect on everyone else.

I'm senior management and valued by the team,so they'd rather have 4 days of me than 5 days of someone else. But it would be foolish to simply think that even if I'm incredibly productive on the days I'm in, that my regular absence one day a week didn't have any impact on others

Similarly a colleague (also senior management) leaves at 5 on the dot because she has to do pickup by 6pm. She is incredibly productive and her work is terrific - but there's no getting around the fact that her leaving early means no meetings with her can be arranged for 5pm - which when everyone else's diaries are really tight, can be frustrating. It's not a showstopper and it's just how it is, and people make it work because she is valuable - but as above, it would be naive to think that part time working patterns are no one else's business.

There's someone at my work who does this to me. I tend to grin and say "yes I am part-time, which is why I get to go home now..."

Thanks everyone for the comments, I was wonuif I was being a bit over sensitive but I now feel I have a point, and a right to go into work and not have to worry about feeling undermined every day. I'm going to have a quiet chat with colleague in the new year, if that doesn't sort it then I'll have a word with my boss. Even if she stops after that I expect she'll still be slagging me off on my days when I'm not in, but I expect she already does that anyway. I'm not the only part timer in the office, but I think it's probably because I worked full time before maternity leave, and as DS is now in school she probably thinks I should be working ful time, however I have health problems (chronic pain in 2 areas, lucky me!) and I would like to be there to pick my DS up from school and keep on top of family stuff, rather than go back to work and pay for cleaners/child minders etc. Mums who don't come back after maternity leave, or return full time, she doesn't seem to have a problem with, I think there is some jealousy tbh. However as people have mentioned above, I have a part time wage, shit car etc, so life isn't a holiday. Thanks everyone

I've had this - I usually suggest that the commenter asks HR to go part-time ( we can all request it) and add that of course it means a drop in salary. Usually shuts them right up.
I've also point blank asked a particularly annoying one to just SHUT UP about it and again pointed out that the wages are pro-rata. And as for what I do on my days off ( study & kids actually) I usually tell them I have a great work-life balance and I'm lucky both me and DP can afford to not work full-time.
Not to mention I work to sales a sales target that IS NOT pro-rata so I'm still doing the same amount of work just in less time and more focused. Had to point that out to my new idiot boss who wasn't happy about having a part-timer.He'd rather have everyone at a desk under his nose all day long even if they're actually mucking about on the internet all day.

holdingandpraying that's interesting, microbehaviors are rife in my company, I watched a video and realised I have witnessed almost every behaviour thsyyis designed to exclude and undermine. The "long running office joke" is particularly often.

bananas If a colleague had to leave at 5pm to collect her child then I'd take that as a bit of luck, I don't think many people want to start an office meeting after 5pm, the risk would be dragging on past home time, and then everyone feels a duty to leave late. Plus I don't think people would be at their best or contribute well without keeping their eye on the clock. Also bare in mind if she is collecting from a childminder and over runs she will get charged extra, so no wonder she leaves on the dot at 5pm.

100% jealousy. And to an extent just something to say, you know?

It's like remarking about the weather, it's a very British safety blanket conversation isn't it.

I would t take it to heart, I doubt they give it a second thought.

bananas If a colleague had to leave at 5pm to collect her child then I'd take that as a bit of luck, I don't think many people want to start an office meeting after 5pm, the risk would be dragging on past home time, and then everyone feels a duty to leave late. Plus I don't think people would be at their best or contribute well without keeping their eye on the clock. Also bare in mind if she is collecting from a childminder and over runs she will get charged extra, so no wonder she leaves on the dot at 5pm.

Totally understandable - no one is in dispute about that. Everyone understands the needs around pickup which is why she does leave at 5pm and everyone accommodates it - for that very reason

I'm simply saying as a part timer myself I understand that my decision to work part time has a knock on effect on my full time colleagues. Doesn't mean I shouldn't do it - I also have a chronic pain condition and it's a non negotiable for me when I take on a role that I can do 4 days. And we make it work! But it would be naive not to realise that other people have to make accommodations around me, because I'm part time