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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 32.5 hours is full time?

351 replies

tillyandmolly · 31/03/2023 20:34

I'm at work 35 hours a week (5 x 7 hour shifts) with a 30 minute break, so technically it's 32.5. AIBU to think this is full time work?

Was out with some of my mum friends the other night and was straight up told how "it must be quite nice to have part time work even though the DC are in secondary school". My DC are in secondary school yes and I'm working full time because of that? (Not implying people have to of course, but it's full time surely?)

OP posts:
DaftyLass · 31/03/2023 20:41

It's 37.5 hours here to be full time

EnVogue · 31/03/2023 20:41

Sorry, that's 0.8 WTE so that's definitely not full time, definitely not in the NHS anyway.

Bearpawk · 31/03/2023 20:41

Recruiter here, IME ft Is 37h min exc. lunch breaks.
Some are 42 exc. lunches!
I'd class yours as 4/5

Mumof1andacat · 31/03/2023 20:42

Where I work now, full time is 37.5hr (30 mins for lunch a day). Where I used to work full time was 35 hours (1 hr for lunch a day). I work 30hrs (30 mins for lunch) that's part time.

BotterMon · 31/03/2023 20:42

It's a day less than full-time so you're friends are right.

bonkersbirdie · 31/03/2023 20:42

Full time teaching staff across the entire country are contracted to work 32.5 hours and that is definitely not a part time job.

berksandbeyond · 31/03/2023 20:42

I would say that is part time.

ComeOnNumber100 · 31/03/2023 20:42

Mon to Fri, 9-5 with an hour lunch is a 35 hour week. Minimum 35 hours is full time. Where I am now 37 hours is full time and DH’s job is 40 hours full time.

Sorry, 32.5 hrs is not full time.

Albiboba · 31/03/2023 20:42

It’s not technically full time as that’s 35+ but it’s only just short. Weird for other people to bring it up and call it part time.
Sounds like they are jealous.

MichaelAndEagle · 31/03/2023 20:42

Its part time but with none of the advantages. You might as well be full time and take the extra pay.

UrsulaBelle · 31/03/2023 20:43

37 is full time in my current job. I’ve worked 37.5 39 and 40 in other jobs. 37 feels generous. 32.5 is nearly full time though.

HollyFern1110 · 31/03/2023 20:43

Full time in my NHS job is 37.5 hours with a 30 minute break each day. So 40 hours at work.

Anyone doing less than this is classed as part time whether it's 34 hours or 16 hours.

OoooohMatron · 31/03/2023 20:43

Moraxella · 31/03/2023 20:38

48hrs is full time

No it's not. If you are working that many hours I hope you are on an hourly rate or a massive salary

AlltheFs · 31/03/2023 20:43

It depends what full time is at your employer. I am in HE and full time in the sector is usually between 35 and 37.5hrs a week. I’ve never done 40hrs, but at DH’s job in a bank they are 40hrs at the moment but reducing to 37.5 soon. There’s no universal definition of full time.

I do .81 FTE which is 4x8hr days with an unpaid 30 min break (so I am paid for 4x7.5hrs = 30hrs). It’s part time.

MichaelAndEagle · 31/03/2023 20:43

MichaelAndEagle · 31/03/2023 20:42

Its part time but with none of the advantages. You might as well be full time and take the extra pay.

Sorry I don't mean you specifically should, it might suit you not to be obviously!

Albiboba · 31/03/2023 20:43

BotterMon · 31/03/2023 20:42

It's a day less than full-time so you're friends are right.

It’s not a day less it’s 2.5 hours less than a typical 9-5 full time job.

ModeratelyBetter · 31/03/2023 20:44

It's part time but it's hardly life changing amounts of time off.

Fwiw I do 37 after breaks are taken off but term time only plus inset days. I'm probably part time as I get so much holiday. But it feels like full time as kids are at home during the holidays and they're quite small. I can't see me changing jobs when they hit secondary though as I like my job

SquidwardBound · 31/03/2023 20:44

I always think it’s a good deal when FT is 35 hours a week.

Although… IME any job I’ve had that claimed a nominal 35 hour working week was far from that. Universities are absolute shits for claiming this stuff. Then you find out that they allocated you 150% of a FT workload in teaching alone.

My current job is 40 hours as FT and I can actually just do that.

RashOfBees · 31/03/2023 20:46

I don’t think it’s full time either. On surveys and similar FT is usually categorised as 35 hours and up.

However, it’s close enough to FT hours that if working over five days I don’t think you’d feel much benefit. I think most working those hours would want to do them over four days to get a day off a week.

2chocolateoranges · 31/03/2023 20:47

I used to honk that full time was 37.5hrs a week .

however I work for the Local Authority and full time is 35 hours.

Original poster
tillyandmolly · 31/03/2023 20:47

Interesting! As some have said... really doesn't feel part time because I'm literally out 5/7 days and with travelling to and from work, etc. it just simply feels like full time Grin but obviously isn't.

But yeah, seems strange to specifically say "part time" to me like that, if she had simply said it's nice hours or whatever, wouldn't have bat much of an eyelid)

OP posts:
swissrollisntswiss · 31/03/2023 20:48

I work a 40hr week so you would be a 0.8 at my place of work.

Original poster
tillyandmolly · 31/03/2023 20:49

Would love to do them over 4 days a week but it's not something that's offered sadly

OP posts:
UnsolicitedOpinions · 31/03/2023 20:49

If someone asked me what FT hours are I’d say 37.5 per week, so obviously it’s less than that. However if you’re in work for 7 hours 5 days a week then to all intents and purposes it’s full time.

It’s definitely not part time.

I guess though it would be easily possible to work those hours over 4 days and it would seem more like part time then.

I think it’s less about how many hours and more about how many whole days are taken up by work.

ActDottie · 31/03/2023 20:49

Where I work 35 hours is full time but judging by all the comments on here I’m apparently part time!