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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be irked when I hear, "you're ONLY part-time so..."

21 replies

sisteroutlaw · 15/03/2018 23:21

I work 25 hours of a possible 35 hour week, 5 hours a day. Just two hours less per day than the full-timers. I'm committed and present in the office. I just don't get the dismissal in people's voices about part-time working. I had it at my old job too when I returned to a part-time role and heard the "you're ONLY part-time" schtick. I thought times might have changed and this company would be different. Really riles me. Whinge with me, please.

OP posts:

kabanner · 15/03/2018 23:27

As a full timer who does more than her hours, I admire the part timers who fit so much into their day. All the part timers I have worked with are probably more efficient than me as I can always stay on late to finish stuff off.

Work values the long hours culture, it always hides the cracks however it's a ingrained culture that's hard to change.

Wifelife · 15/03/2018 23:29

Completely with you!

I get a lot of similar comments and attitudes from friends who work full time - I only work part time due to the opening hours of the boutique I manage but on the flip side these friends don’t consider that they also don’t work weekends like I do or consider the much lower wage I earn ... I love my job and enjoy being part time but like any job it comes with it’s negatives and I think it’s such a shame to feel like you have to defend your decision to work those hours - it feels like it doesn’t seem to matter what you do just how many hours you’re doing for ...

Wifelife · 15/03/2018 23:30

Doing it for

Original poster

sisteroutlaw · 15/03/2018 23:42

You're right, it's hard to change the long hours culture. Just feel a bit deflated as I wish I'd brought the comment up with my line manager when she said it. It was a throw-away thing yet the type of comment I hope will be seen as discriminatory in a few years' time.

There needs to be some sort of shift to accommodate/appreciate part-time working. Not able to form my argument well. Can anyone help? So many strands to this. I did get Anne-Marie Slaughter's book out of the library but had to return before reading!

OP posts:

Original poster

sisteroutlaw · 15/03/2018 23:59

Yes wifelife people may not get the reasons we work part-time. The boutique you manage sounds swish!

Money-wise, the full-time wage would barely cover the costs of wrap-around childcare for 2 kids - I'm lucky that they agreed to part-time so I can still pick them up from school. But it feels like I'm making lots of small sacrifices, bending this way and that to prove how flexible and keen I am. I know that's the lot of working mothers. How can I encourage a shift to change this culture? Any ideas most welcome.

OP posts:

DextroDependant · 16/03/2018 00:03

I get this all the time. I work 30 hours of a possible 37.5.

All I get is how lucky I am to be part time. I point out that they are more than welcome to apply for reduced hours too If they want to take the cut in pay. They usually shut up then.

kabanner · 16/03/2018 00:11

Speak to your manager and ask if there is anything lacking in your performance on the basis of you working part-time. Are you not meeting your contract of employment? The goals/tasks set by your manager, is it in line with your contract and what is reasonable?

Springtrolls · 16/03/2018 00:12

Yea I'm also a member of the 'oh your so lucky' part-time club.
I asked. I presented reasons why this was viable and how it would help the workplace. Of course, I took a pay cut.
I tell colleagues to also submit a formal request and to remember the pay cut.
They go quiet for a bit and it starts again.
Then, of course, there's the culture of oh your PT how can you be tired? They cannot see that I am being overworked. Nor do they know meds I am on impact my sleep.
And yes I have raised the overworked issue. Like the above it gets better and quickly slips back.
Hence I am job looking.

MrsMaxwell · 16/03/2018 00:16

We are told at Work who are usually fucking shit (local authority) to never say “only” part time.

Original poster

sisteroutlaw · 16/03/2018 00:29

Good to hear that they've got sth right MrsMaxwell!
Yes I think there may be an assumption too that being part-time is an overpayed hobby. Sigh. If only they knew the sad pro rata salary. Still, lucky to have a job, must remember.

OP posts:

NoKnownFather · 16/03/2018 00:38

For many years I worked PT because it suited me, but I also opted to be on-call for extra days and sometimes would work 6 days straight, one off (Sunday), then front up on Monday for another 6 days. None of the fulltime staff did 6 days, they were only employed to work 5 and no way would they interrupt their lifestyle to work an extra day...but...always found time for off-handed, snide remarks about me being PT.

Used to get under my skin too and I tried several things but in the end just turned the remarks back on them. Normally I don't make snide remarks, but sometimes when you've had more than enough they are the first thing that come to mind (because you hear them day in and day out)...and it worked!!

Don't normally recommend making nasty comments, but your colleagues sound like mine and sometimes you have to stoop to their level as that's what they understand.

Not much help, but can sympathise with you.

Cellardoor23 · 16/03/2018 01:07

I get this too. I used to work full time, but after having a dc and not being able to afford child care fees, I now work part time. I work roughly 30hrs over 3 days apparently part time where I work

I was having a conversation with a colleague one day who is also part time (chose to do it) works one more day than me. Not 10 hour shifts either I should add, said he was more tired than I am. I know it's tiring, I have worked there for almost 10 years. I would take working 5 days a week over looking after a toddler.

I understand people might have outside hobbies and what not, but it just came and across a bit patronising when he said it.

Urubu · 16/03/2018 09:11

Could it be that part timers often leave work on the dot because they have other commitments (pick up DC from school for ex, ie the reason why they went part time), whereas full timers are a bit more flexible?

I say this as a part timer myself so not a criticism

Trills · 16/03/2018 09:15

How do they finish the sentence?

I can imagine that some sentences beginning with that would be fine, some extremely offensive, and others in the middle.

"You're only part-time so you don't eat as many biscuits, you shouldn't have to put as much into the biscuit fund"
vs
"You're only part-time so you don't care as much about the future of this company"

Wineloffa · 16/03/2018 09:19

I always reply "yes but I earn a part time wage." Agree with the point about parttimers and efficiency. I have long suspected that my job is actually a full time work load crammed into 25 hours per week to suit the limited budget of my section so I seem way busier than my full time colleagues. I love the job though and love having every afternoon off so have no plans to complain.

thecatsthecats · 16/03/2018 09:19

I can one-up these. One woman in our office was referred to as part time when she worked 35 hours!

We're mostly on 40 or 30 hours, but she negotiated fewer hours initially. Drove her nuts to be referred to as part time.

Origamoo · 16/03/2018 09:29

Yes I think people sometimes forget that to be part-time you’re earning less money! I’m 0.5 in my job, my choice, and yes I am lucky to get days off and have a lighter workload - but I earn half of what my FT colleagues earn! Plus I’m limited in the role I can do at my workplace and I don’t feel I’m doing exactly what I want - so that’s the trade off for me. I’ve made that choice for my own reasons and it works for our family right now, but I do think my career has suffered, so I don’t always feel that lucky thanks!

Hillarious · 16/03/2018 09:42

This is me. I used to work 25 hours a week when I had school pick ups to do. I've gradually had my hours increased to the full-time rate here of 36.25 (no paid lunch). I easily do 40 hours a week, and 50 in an annual four week busy period whilst I watch my part-time colleague leave every day on the dot of 2.00 pm.

LadySainsburySeal · 16/03/2018 09:48

I used to get told that I worked a half day on Fridays. I worked 6 hours on Fridays compared to my colleagues 7 hours.

user1471506568 · 16/03/2018 09:50

Urubu - I think you have a point in some workplaces. I used to work in a company where employees working part time would have defined times when they would start and finish their work, so any spikes in workload that required additional time beyond the norm would be picked up by full timers who didn't have such set working hours. Ultimately the work had to be done someone. I think from a FT workers point of view, as you're not necessarily paid extra for those hours, you are actually working for less money each hour you work versus someone who works PT even though your take home pay is higher. This definitely led to some resentment. Obviously it would be nice if all the extra hours were paid as overtime to avoid this problem, but I don't think that's necessarily realistic.

mrspapalazarou · 16/03/2018 09:54

I work 3 days a week and do not experience any problems at all from my ft colleagues however I do feel (stupidly) that because I'm pt, I have to be seen to work extra hard like I have to prove I'm still a worthwhile employee. I know, it's just how I am.

BUT, the 'only' part time thing really really bugs me. People don't mean it to be rude, they will just say 'oh she's not in today because she's only part time' but that word just gets to me.

When I was full time, I may have said it myself!

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