Work party

[esme19]

My work place are having a party in a few months time during the working week on a day I do not work. I work part time.

I knew this event was coming up and spoke to my manager about it and said hopefully it won't be on this day as I'm not the only part time member of the company but it is.

I can't change my days around due to childcare.

Everyone will be given 5 hours out of work to attend.

How is this fair to employees that work part time?!

I feel like women are punished for being part time due to having children!

So there are days of the week when 100% of the staff are in? And just this date they be picked there's only you off in the whole business?

Do all the part timers have the same working days? Or is there an single day when everybody is in? If the answer is No to either of these, then you are not being discriminated against.

I don't think it is that at all. Wouldn't you be cross or disappointed if an event was arranged on the one day of the week that the organiser knew you couldn't go?

Sure. (Well, probably I'd be delighted, but that's a different story. )

But, for example, OP may be the only person who doesn't work on a Friday and Tuesday is the only day with everyone in, say. In which case organising the Christmas party for Friday afternoon and evening is fair enough.

Based on the OP I do suspect it's about the five hours of not working (otherwise why mention it), which is just petty tbh.

This. Sorry but it's not all about you. These things take a lot of planning and coordination and it's likely this day worked best because it was quiet or didn't have key meetings or pressures etc. they can't juggle an entire schedule around for one person! If you're that bothered, swap your non working day. I know others who have done this in similar situations in the past

How many people are attending? Might be quite difficult to arrange something that suits all. I’d go by the diaries of people who absolutely had to be there). Could also be a cost issue if venue or entertainment etc needs to be taken into consideration. Whatever it is,I doubt it’s intended to annoy you. Sometimes shit happens.

They have given you months of notice and are letting you change days if you are able so I don't see the issue. I'm sure every day has at least one pt person off

People who work full time still have other commitments, children or otherwise. Would you rather someone else missed out on the party so you can go?

Shit happens.

As a woman and a mother my priority would always be the commitment with my child.

If it's a medical appointment (absolute nightmare to rearrange) then that far outweighs some 'work party'. In all honesty you sound like a petulant child. Your child is your priority not a party and as your child and your prior commitment are nothing to do with work you are not suffering from any form of discrimination....

You win some, you lose some. I'm sure loads of the full time workers wish they worked part time. You sound entitled expecting the world to bend around you.

I am part time
Honestly, I hate when stuff like this crops up because it makes us all look difficult.
you can’t please everyone all of the time. Next time, get involved with doing the organising.

If it's just everyone getting together in the office then I think you're not being unreasonable. They should've picked the one day of the week when everyone works to include you all.

If there are any other external factors, such as going off site to another venue, doing an activity, catering etc, then I think you need to realise these things don't always have constant availability and are hard to accommodate everyone. Chances are one of these external factors was only bookable on your non-working day.

They can't accommodate everyone unfortunately, what about people who have booked holidays then too?
I used to work PT and things like this are frustrating but it's not personal.
If there's a few months notice can't you change your days around? I occasionally did when PT, being a little flexible means they're going to be more flexible with you when you want to request something

Have you ever tried organising these things?

You've been given plenty of notice, I don't sit there and think "can x come, or should we do it on a day she is in". I go by when my boss (and I) can do it and fits in with other things happening, things that most people don't realise are happening (leave dates,meetings etc).

What are you most annoyed about?

There are many things women are punished for but this is not an example OP.

You've been invited to a party, you can't go due to a commitment.

Do you think men don't have commitments that mean they might have to miss a party?

It's annoying but that is what being part time is like. It's just a party. As a part time teacher I never benefit from the may bank hol if I'm not working Mondays. Just be an adult and say it sounds lovely but sadly you can't make it.

Maybe your H could take time off to take your child to their commitment?

“I feel like women are punished for being part time due to having children!”

Yabu, you’re not being punished for having children. Yes it’s a shame you can’t attend it, you had an invite but obviously other commitments stop that. Plenty of parents unfortunately have to miss things whether it’s work or social due to being a parent. It’s seems like your problem is more the fact that your colleagues get 5 hours out of work to attend (is that paid?) and you don’t get anything?

I have worked PT for the last 15 years. It's a two way street in terms of flexibility and things don't always work out. You have been invited, ordinarily you might have switched days to go but on this occasion you can't because your child has a commitment. That's just how it goes sometimes.

I feel like women are punished for being part time due to having children!

Are you aware that men can be parents too? DH has missed things for the same reason (scheduled on the day he has off with DS), I haven't because I work full time!

Its just tough shit

I agree with you. When we organise stuff it is always on the day everyone is in work. If people can’t make it because they are on a/l then we might try to change it but probably not. The majority are part-time but everyone has to work on a Tuesday as part of their pattern so all work meetings/get togethers/lunches are organised for Tuesdays.

just to add it’s not about women being treated unfairly as we have men in the team who work part-time. It’s that we are a team and so we want to include the whole team!

Maybe there’s a reason they couldn’t do it on a day everyone was in. I don’t see your problem. You work part time and you’re paid part time.