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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Colleague comments about my hours

65 replies

user987897 · 23/05/2025 22:48

My colleague keeps constantly telling me how cushy my hours are because I only work 18 hours a week. I work 3 days 6 hours per shift and everyone else works full time. I don’t work till the end of day like everyone else.
I now feel paranoid that all the other staff are talking about my hours and thinking I have it cushy.
I have told her a few times now that the reason that I work part time was due to getting ill so I can’t work full time but that doesn’t seem enough for her.

OP posts:

grumpygrape · 24/05/2025 15:06

Firefly100 · 24/05/2025 08:26

response: Is it my illness or my reduced wage you envy?

Perfect response

ConsuelaHammock · 24/05/2025 15:37

She’s jealous ! Tell her you’ll show her how to fill in the form to apply for part time hours. Then tell her to please stop commenting on your working hours as it is making you feel uncomfortable. Report her to HR if she continues.

thenarnianna · 24/05/2025 19:20

I work 20 hours due to health reasons and soon to be dropping to 16. Next time she comments, i would just say something like "well the money's not cushy haha" or "do you realise how little I earn? Haha"

FionnulaTheCooler · 24/05/2025 19:23

I also work part time and I've had colleagues say things like "Oh, I'd love to be swanning off home at this time." I just say "Well, I'm sure you wouldn't like it when you saw the pay packet compared to yours."

iamnotalemon · 24/05/2025 21:12

I work full time and I’d be jealous if someone worked part time, that’s all it is, so I wouldn’t worry.

TeaAndTattoos · 24/05/2025 21:15

Just remind her that the hours might be cushy but the pay is also less than what she is getting. Everyone thinks part time is brilliant but they wouldn’t be laughing all the way to the bank on the pay.

LlynTegid · 24/05/2025 21:16

There comes a point where this is harassment. Unwanted persistent comments. Maybe that point has been reached judging by your feelings about it OP.

Please make this clear to her and hopefully that will be the end, if not then a formal complaint via HR.

Hannah55r · 24/05/2025 23:19

wfhwfh · 23/05/2025 23:16

I think you need to change your mindset so you don’t feel you have to justify anything to her. People are allowed to work part-time. She could request this also.

Personally, I wouldn’t get defensive and saying anything about part-time pay, I’d just lean into it and say “Yes, it works so well for me”.

It’s maybe not meant maliciously in any way. Like if you were going on holiday to the Bahamas then a colleague might say “Alright for some - I wish I was going!” You wouldn’t feel the need to justify why you deserved to go or how you’d funded it - you’d just say “Yes, I can’t wait!”

When someone makes a snotty comment about me being part time I say "I don't need to work full time and part time hours work for us as a family" end of discussion

Funnyduck60 · 24/05/2025 23:29

I get this too. When they say I wish I could go home too, I say I wish I hD your wages. Deep down I wish I had the health, youth and energy to work full time.

QueenOfHiraeth · 24/05/2025 23:34

I worked part-time and used to get comments like this which irritated me. A manager I worked with told me people never comment about the hours you work, only the hours you don't so you could work loads and exceed all expectations but they will still comment on the times you are not there.

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 24/05/2025 23:39

This is so sad if it is jealousy. My house have been reduced due to illness…. I’m doing 1/2 of what I did. But the other half is being classed as “sick hours”
so I’m getting paid for doing the full amount of time. Not a single one of the people I work with have complained!! They are just happy we get to still be a little team and it makes them see how supportive our higher management are/would be towards illness. It’s increased staff morale as they know the same would be done for them. Must be awful to be made to feel like shit for something out of your control

glittercunt · 24/05/2025 23:44

I'm disabled. When people make ableist or otherwise shit comments to me about not having to do the 9-5 or wishing they didn't have to go to work, I now loudly tell people I'd love a job, how having a job is a privilege I am not able to access due to my disabilities, that not having a second wage coming in means my life has little to shout about in it.

Because I believe this shit should be called out. Anyone coming out with this stuff wants to try losing their income and ability to enjoy not being at work at the same time.

Booboomylove · 24/05/2025 23:55

I'm not sure what you mean by 'getting ill so I can't work full time' ? Are you so ill that you can never work full time or just now while you are ill? If you are seriously ill are you getting the benefits you're entitled to?

Bobnobob · 03/07/2025 10:15

It’s probably just banal chit chat at the end of your day when she still has hours to go. Some people just repeat themselves and have no idea how monotonous it is. Just smile, agree and tell her you’re off to the spa!

JasmineTea11 · 03/07/2025 10:20

I used to get this when I worked shorter hours coz my DS was little, every time anyone mentioned it, I'd point out I got paid for hours i was there, just like them?!?
People are daft, they need these things pointing out!

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