Lack of progression for part time workers

[kiranhpp]

Women get treated like shit on return to work , going from full time to part time, it's like put up shut up earn your money stop complaining you are not progressing just enjoy being a mum.

Bloody hell there are some depressing old fashioned views on this thread.

I work part time. I'm worth investing in because I'm very good at what I do, and if they don't continue to invest in me, I'll leave and it would be their loss! Like any decent employee would be.

Thankfully my company agree, and on return from maternity leave both times, I've had training / progression opportunities.

Part time workers are more efficient and often more loyal (as it's often hard to change to another part time job). Not giving them the same training and progression opportunities as full time staff is discriminatory and short sighted - helping employees stay engaged and skilled and achieve a better work life balance leads to better results for the company, less stressed / sick employees etc.

Holding people back because they are part time leads to resentment and good people leaving.

I would say that as my company have treated me well, I am flexible in return and will work at the weekend to catch up etc if there is something urgent on, respond to urgent messages on my day off if I can etc (though it's not expected).

I think flexible working will increase in the future

Also I wouldn't have an issue being managed by someone who was part time. In my role there isn't anything that can't wait one day, or be sorted by another manager

It’s great for you if you’ve got a great husband who hasn’t you know, left or died or become seriously ill. But don’t toss your hair and screw over the women who are 74% more likely to work PT than their male peers due to structural elements of our society. @Pogmella I have a brilliant partner now and have always kept my independece and been fully prepared to leave if he did not share responsibilities and treat me as an equal partner. My first child was conceived by rape so I did it all alone (no support from family). I built my career as a single parent. I went from carer to care home manager in 3 years which has given me the ability to be flexible when needed. I don't see how working full time is screwing part time workers over? (And I don't get the tossing hair comment but it sounds quite sexist). Surely if you get left you're more likely to work full time to provide for the child/ren. I couldn't have afforded to bring my son up with part time wages.
I employ many part time staff, many single parents and many people in their 40s and 50s. That age group often get overlooked but many are hidden diamonds. For many their kids are grown and/or they are wanting a change and to challenge themselves.
Also, my partner and I splitting parental leave was talked about by people we know (and people we don't know to be fair!) Quite a lot of fathers (my wonderful father included) said they would have loved to do that. And the majority of women said they "couldn't" have shared it, not even a few weeks. I also know a few couples where the father has wanted to both do part time but the mother has point blank refused to even consider it.

some women want a career and to be there for their children. We should be able to have a decent career part time job Ahh yes...because working full time means you can't possibly be there for your children!

Not an issue in my role either. equal access to training & development. It will of course take me longer to gather the necessary project experience to consider promotions etc but theres no stigma.

It is a choice to go part time. I give less to my employer than my full time peers, and that is reflected in what I receive back. I'm happy with that choice.

the majority of women said they "couldn't" have shared it, not even a few weeks

My DH wasnt particularly keen to do shared parental leave and I was relieved. I loved maternity leave & had felt ready and happy to turn down the pace at work to be with the children more. He is more ambitious than me in his career. I still have a great job I've just slowed down for a bit and we are happy with our choices.

@OoohTheStatsDontLie

Also I wouldn't have an issue being managed by someone who was part time. In my role there isn't anything that can't wait one day, or be sorted by another manager

Yes, I find it a strangely needy attitude to want a manager available at all times.

We try to ensure that one of the three managerial staff is available each day in the event of an emergency, but by and large everyone knows how to do their job and doesn't need telling what to do each day. My manager is only with us three days a week.

I do tend towards the opinion that lots of companies are using a vastly outmoded system of management though, that undermines staff independence and ability.

Sometimes it's market driven though. I work in the law and clients want someone who's around when they need them not just for limited days/hours. Part timers don't get to work on the best accounts for this very reason.

I'm a partner and team leader and is a massive ballache for me when a outspoken crops up on a file of a part time member of staff - often because of a mistake they've made. It needs sorting NOW but they're not working again until Monday so I have to drop everything and sort it myself, or ruin around like a blue arsed fly finding someone with the right skills and available time to pick it up.

Part time might be suited to some industries but in something fast paced like litigation, it isn't. So part timers will never progress as quickly and going part time is a lifestyle choice. Nurseries were open five days a week last time I looked.

A lot of very depressing attitudes on here. Part time staff are completely and wrongly overlooked in my experience. Lots of part time colleagues I have work more efficiently and do more in 3/4 days a week than most people did full time. In my field, It is totally possible to run a team if you aren't in. You need a good deputy and good project management. Nurses, doctors, dentists, accountants lots of them work part time. Would you tell a part time nurse at the gp surgery she shouldn't get a promotion or pay rise?

Employers a missing out on talent and it is shocking in this day in age that so many people seem to think commitment to work is measured by how much time you spend at the office. Women will never achieve equality unless we stop this attitude. I agree with you op and those of you that think that part time workers should be ashamed of yourselves.

@ceeveebee good points. So glad to see someone that has some evolved views on this. I think most of the posters on here are men from 1970. Probably believe we shouldn't get maternity pay too....

This is such a depressing thread. And I know lots of law partners who work part time.

Both my kids dad and I work part time. Complete equality and we have professional, highly paid, challenging jobs. Honestly it’s the men who MUST lead from the front on this.

@Pumpkinnose good points. Both men and woman should be able to work part time should they desire without entering a city black hole.