AIBU to think part timers should get a better deal

[Frazzledme]

I've worked part time when my kids were small but it was so s* I've gone full time now. As a job the pay tends to be crap, there are hardly any jobs to pick from and I've worked in a few teams where they could never get over that I was into my job and wanted to do well. Where I work they're quite big on inclusion and diversity but if I ever mention anything about making things better for part timers and having more flexibility it's like tumbleweeds going past. I'm ok with my hours now, but some people might want to change if they have kids etc. I'd like to use my experience to improve things for others. Is there something I'm not getting why people are so funny about it?

Also I know some people see it as a choice thing, but it's not really. If it costs more to work than not work with childcare then part time hours often make sense. No tax to pay so hourly pay goes up.

Thinking of doing an article for our group magazine to highlight how things could be better. Is this a good idea? What sort of things should I include?

Or should I just think "I'm alright jack" now I've got my cosy full time job again and people seem to like and respect me.

You are right @Hardbackwriter. Pre-Corona Virus, which of course was a completely different situation, I used to get so cross when people talked about "working from home" whilst looking after a baby or a toddler, or, quite frankly, even any dc under about 7yrs old

I am a part time teacher. Pre-children, I was head of a large department and set fair to be an assistant principal. I now work three days a week ‘just’ teaching. Initially, I took on extra responsibilities when I went part time, however those extra responsibilities were paid pro rata, despite me having to do the whole job, for example being responsible for recruiting and training new teachers. When I asked who would be picking up the two fifths of the job I wasn’t paid for, I was told ‘no-one’. So I basically fulfilled a full time responsibility on part time pay and found myself working all the time on my unpaid days off.

Obviously, this is ridiculous, so I relinquished my extra responsibilities to a young, eager, full-timer and am now clearly regarded as just some barely visible older woman who slops in three times a week to fill the time before I drop dead. It’s very galling. I’m a highly capable person, very experienced, bright, skilled at what I do, a very enthusiastic and engaging practitioner. It’s just not right what happens to some of us when we go part time.

Haven't read the whole thread, but absolutely I agree that part timers get a raw deal.

I went part time 5 years ago, after returning from first mat leave. It was ok initially. I was doing 4 days per week, essentially given the same work, but at least I was in control of timelines etc and essentially used to just deliver a little bit slower than I would have if I had been full time.

However one or two years ago, after my second mat leave, I found it became more difficult. I wanted some career progression and I looked to move jobs but everything was advertised full time, and it really wasn't possible with two young kids to do this.

So I've had to wait until now that DC are a bit older (6 and 3) and something has come up at work. Just been offered a promotion, which was offered at 4 days or full time. I've decided to take it full time, on the basis that there is no clear way that I can see of making it into a 4 day role. I have negotiated flexible hours so that I can do school pick up 2x per week.

I think part of the problem is that workplaces, and teams within them, are set up around full time work. It's not that people are unhappy with people working part time in prinicple, its that they can't really see a way to make it work within a particular role.

I have to say that in my own situation, I have become increasingly frustrated at the lack of opportunities I had, and the way in which my mat leave disadvantaged me (eg being passed over for responsibilities at work in the 6 months before and after my mat leave), and am determined not to let this continue.

@WayTooSoon

Pre-children I travelled regularly to international conferences. When I returned on part time hours, my travel budget was halved and I could no longer attend as many events, which subsequently had an effect on my networking & training opportunities. Within the office, I was excluded from certain projects because the meetings had to be on X day of the week when I was not in or because "we don't want the meetings to eat into your office hours" (which I understand as there were a LOT of very long meetings!)

I love my job, but feel completely trapped in it. I wouldn't be able to leave as I wouldn't be able to get the same flexibility with another employer as all roles I see (including internal promotion opportunities) are advertised on full time hours.

This is very much my experience and how I currently feel

I have found something equally as flexible but it will take a pay cut to do it

At least I won’t feel so sidelined maybe?