To think I’m being treated unfairly at work

[Seahorse123]

Been told that I’m not going to receive any on the job training to extend my skills “because I’m part time”. Also been excluded from professional training opportunities because manager has decided for me that I wouldn’t want to be doing that with a young child at home.

AIBU to be annoyed that I couldn’t make that decision for myself and to think that I am being treated unfavourably for being part time?

Call acas it may be discrimination.

Yes, it's discrimination and can be challenged.

Err, not "it may be". It is. It is blatant discrimination. Have you got email trails, or is it all verbal?

It depends how part time you are and how long and expensive the training is.

Is the manager maybe thinking that there’s a chance you could be going on maternity leave again soon?

Yup, that's discrimination - you still should have training if you're part time and they absolutely can't decide on your behalf that you don't want to do training because you're a parent. They wouldn't say that to a man who had young children, would they?

Any difference in treatment due to a protected characteristic is discriminatory, so yes.

Part time employees must be treated the same as full time.

I work 3 days a week. Definitely no more children for me, not that that should matter.

I’ve been with my employer for 10 years and part time for the last 2.

Sadly no emails, all verbal

It doesn't depend on any of that at all!

It is discrimination OP. You should be given the same opportunities as a full time employee

Speak to your union. Potential indirect sex discrimination (as the majority of carers looking after young families are women).

Sadly no emails, all verbal

summarise the conversation and send it to the manager who came out with this BS. That way you create a paper trial too.

I would email asking for clarification of their position. As others have said you are being treated less favourably in terms of development due to a protected characteristic.

https://www.acas.org.uk/part-time-workers

No more conversations - put everything in email from now on. Don't mention discrimination or employment rights yet. Email & ask them to clarify why you're not able to complete professional training, as you'd like to address the barriers and be able to do the training.

If they have any nous - they need to give you a different reason. If they're stupid - and it sounds like they are - they'll say something about you not getting rid of your kid, ha ha ha.

Then - depending how confident you are - you have some evidence and can speak to them about your rights or contact ACAS; or speak to a solicitor.

https://www.gov.uk/part-time-worker-rights#:~:text=Part%2Dtime%20workers%20should%20get,holidays

Then if these are recent conversations, or if they recur, your most urgent priority should probably be to send to sum up their content in an email to your manager. Something along the lines of "so just to sum up and make sure I've got this right". With phrasing obviously designed to sound aa inoffensive as possible but to still be clear.

I agree with sending an email outlining your understanding of no training necessary conversation to start an email trail

As a part time worker you have the right to be treated fairly and not worse than a full time employee.

@LordEmsworth is giving you good advice above. You should follow that.

I would be looking into this further from the prospective of The Part Time workers (prevention of less favourable treatment) Regulations 2000 rather than as a case of equality discrimination, should be clearer cut that way.

Thanks everyone. The sad thing is I really like the company I work for, I would just like the opportunity to progress to a more senior role.

I feel like my full-time colleagues without children are overtaking me in terms of potential with all this extra investment in them and I’m missing out. I’ve worked in the same position for a long time and everyone else is a relative newcomer