to be a bit miffed at being described as a "part timer" when I work 4.5 days a week?

[fretaway]

dh rang me at work today, only I had moved desks and left the office for the day. My previous seat is now occupied by my line manager who picked up the phone, he said 'Oh I'm afraid she's left the office for the day, she's only a part-timer".
dh was a bit suprised that he said this, seeing as I work 4.5 days a week. I work 8am - 3pm on my full days and do not take a lunch break, what's more I rarely leave at 3pm, it's more like 3:30pm and 4pm when it's really busy plus I don't get paid for any extra time. I work 1 day a week from home but so does everyone else, does that constitute being part time?

So tell me fellow MNers, AIBU to feel a teensy bit p***d off? Or am I being oversensitive?

Part-timeer is a funny thing to say. No-one says full-timer. It is defining your work by the hours you do (rather than a lawyer/engineer/researcheretc who works part-time).

Well dh said he definitely used the word "only" and he was the one who said it wasn't on in the first place because it showed a lack of respect. There is a guy I know in the department who works 4 days a week and I never heard HIM being referred to as a part-timer, mind you I haven't overheard anyone answer his phone .

One of my colleagues works a 4 day week and has been trying to get back to full time since her daughter started school, but our company can't afford it at the moment. I bristle on her behalf every time someone jokes about her being a 'part timer' - happens a lot and while it's not meant nastily but people don't think.

Blueshoes I think that's part of the European working time directive. They used to enforce lunch breaks at my old workplace because of it. From the mists of time I think the wording only says that the employer has to make provision for the employer to have a break after six hours if they want one but many companies misinterpret this and force you to have one.

That was the situation a few years ago anyway and was very annoying. Absolutely no suggestion of forced lunch breaks where I work now.

I work 4 days a week, spread over 5, and if anyone called me 'only' a part-timer I'd be livid.

What we say (as we have 3 women in this position in our office) is 'I'm sorry, xxx works flexible hours, she won't be in til xo'clock, can anyone else help in the meantime?'

I'd be miffed in your shoes, OP!

The 'only' would infuriate me.

There is a lady here who finishes at 3pm each day. If I take a call for her then during the conversation I may well mention that she finishes at 3pm each day - not in a degoratory way, just so that person knows in future they will be able to speak to her if they call before then.

But no way would I describe someone as 'only' anything.

Yes would definitely be annoyed. My dh works 4 days, although they are 10 hour days - compressed full time. So fewer days than you yet still full time? Grrrr.