Judged for working only 30hours a week!

[layback]

I work thirty hours a week, this is so I can care for my children before school and after as there are no after school activities or care available. I am constantly judged by others who make remarks like "alright for you part timer" or "well I work full time so don't have time for xyz" we have no family nearby and financially can afford this. It does at times feel like I'm not seen as doing anything of value! It's 7.5 hours less than what's considered full time!

You do you, ignore them. As long as you're not moaning at people who are working full time about how you wish you could afford the x,y,z that they have

I work 30 hrs and full timers at my work are on 35 hrs so there isn’t much difference apart from they are in the building for 2 hrs more than me as they take an hours lunch. I have had a few snide comments from one colleague but last time she said it I just told her I didn’t need to work full timers hours. Yeah it was a bit bitchy but she’s commented a few times about it and I needed to shut her up.

I do the same - 32 hrs but spread over a week and have dropped the fifth of my wages. I remind anyone that says anything that they could do it too if they wanted to drop that much a month. For me (for now ) it’s worth it and when my son goes to secondary I may reevaluate but I’ve loved it.

I get this too, I work 4 days instead of 5 so 30 hours a week with 1 day off. The comments I get do my head in and I always remind my colleagues I have the same expectations to meet and targets to achieve and same workload I had to do over 5 days and I have a 20% pay cut.

This is where the laughing reaction would've come in handy 😄! I'd do this!

Are you sure they judge you? if my son gets invited to a birthday party on a school holiday weekday from 11 to 1, my answer is “we can’t come, i work full time”. Similar for 10am coffee meetings, 3pm playdates etc.
Not judging, its a fact.
If school asks for people coming in at 3pm to help with something, that is ok for somebody not working or working parttime, but not me.
After school activities from 3:30 are ok for parttimers, but not me.
No judgement- you do you - but a fact.

I would reply to not so nice comments with exactly this.

Honestly I think they are just jealous. I work part time and it gets on my nerves when people ask me if I'm going home to "relax". Urm no I have a school and nursery run 🙄 I feel very privileged to be able to do so but I am not just going home to put my feet up!

Why do you care? So long as you pay your bills? I work 21 hours and I don't have kids,

I work about 16 hours a week and my kids don’t need looking after any more (they’re 17 and 19). I try to be vague when people ask about my job/hours because some are judgy. I absolutely could work full-time, but I don’t want to and I don’t have to 😬

But then I don’t expect to retire as early as many of my FT working acquaintances because my pension is not as impressive as theirs, so I expect the judgy ones will feel much better when they’re ten years into their retirement and I’m still working 😂

Stop worrying what other people think of you. Just smile and look smug.

I wouldn’t. You don’t have to justify yourself to others.

Move to Europe and you will be an out performer on those hours! Ignore comments and do you. It’s nobody’s bloody business.

Just reply 'jealousy is an ugly trait' Or 'why does my working hours bother you so much?'

You need lots of little mantras in your head, so that you can ignore anyone that says anything like this.

i like - people who mind don’t matter, and people who matter don’t mind. And, don’t take criticism from someone from whom you wouldn’t seek advice.

but don’t forget - it’s brilliant to be able to work 30 hrs. It gives you headspace, your kids don’t have to go into kids club (but can if they want), your career doesn’t stall. It’s a great way of working (though sometimes you get the stress of not enough time at home plus not enough time at work). You can expect others to envy the choices you’ve made to get into that position. If it’s right for you, and your family, that’s all that matters.

I‘d love a 30 hour week. Enjoy it while you can and ignore anyone who mocks
you for it.

The government considers 30h full time so tell them to fuck off.

Ignore them op. I do 15 hrs school bus assistant. I get odd jibe. I say ah its great yes the hours. Lol. People love to put you down.

Just agree that it's so great that you have a work/life balance and how happy you are. Rub their nose in it. Playfully/jokingly reply "ah, you're just jealous!"

I only work two days a week and have had these comments too. I always say to the "oh I wish I only worked 2 days a week" comments, you can! Book a meeting with the boss, request to drop your hours and 3/5ths of your salary like I did 🙃
Husband works long hours, all childcare and drop offs/pick ups for three very young children falls to me. So I also tell people "this is the easiest bit of my day, I've got the remainder of a 24 hour shift to pull once I get home. I would lose money if I worked anymore hours so I also tell people I would love to work more hours (lol I absolutely would not) but can't afford to even if I wanted to as it makes no financial sense.

I fully agree with this!

Im a primary school teacher and am often at the receiving end of comments about how great my job must be, finishing at 3.30 every day (not true) and all the holidays etc, with no regard to how many hours we actually put in. When people used to make comments I’d start getting all defensive and telling them about all the hours I work etc, how holidays aren’t all our own and so on. Now I’ve learnt to let it go over my head and I reply and say “I know, it’s fantastic isn’t it, I’m so lucky to have such an easy job and so much free time…you should train up!” And I find this shuts people up so much faster and they don’t tend to say it again! They’re looking for a reaction and to goad you, so when you just agree with them about how great it is for you, they have nothing else to give.

work life balance is a good response

Maybe they mean you are fortunate to not have to work ft

Thank you

Sounds like it works for you and your family and someone always has something to say on mothers. I’d just ignore or say ‘Sorry, did you mean to be so rude?’ X