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Original poster

Why do people work part time ? I've never understood it...

540 replies

mozhe · 17/05/2007 00:45

I never have, but lots of colleagues in NHS did....you end up doing 3/4 of the work for 1/2 the salary, and get passed over in the promotion stakes...And have you noticed that it's nearly always women who do this ? Why ? I actively discourage junior staff from doing this but lots seem to....

OP posts:
Tinker · 17/05/2007 00:49

Um, because they have other commitments?. Because they don't see work as the be-all and end-all? If they're doing 3/4 for 1/2 pay that's down to poor management. I can't believe you've "never" understood it.

robinpud · 17/05/2007 00:50

Not really up for an argument but you seem to be missing the point. I work 0.4 of a week and get paid 0.4 of a fte salary. I am able to take up promotions if I so wish. I get to spend o.6 of the week with my kids. What is there not to get?

ScottishThistle · 17/05/2007 00:51

I guess they want to spend less time at work & more time at home, not rocket science!

robinpud · 17/05/2007 00:52

I should have said that I work to live and not live to work- an important philosophy that many more materialistic people tend to ignore and that some,less fortunate people are not able to fully embrace. I am lucky to be able to work part time. I have done it for 10 years now and it's great.

robinpud · 17/05/2007 00:52

I should have said that I work to live and not live to work- an important philosophy that many more materialistic people tend to ignore and that some,less fortunate people are not able to fully embrace. I am lucky to be able to work part time. I have done it for 10 years now and it's great.

robinpud · 17/05/2007 00:52

working part time gives me more time to double post somehow..

choosyfloosy · 17/05/2007 00:58

By the time I had ds I'd been working 9 - 5 for 18 years. I felt like a change from that routine.

Also, what would my aunts have said? I have eight of them and not one did ANY paid work with children under school age, and they all regard that choice with immense approval. I'm not psychologically robust enough to deal with auntly disapproval on this level.

Chandra · 17/05/2007 01:04

Because my priorities changed, work was driving my life some years ago (and I loved it, I won't deny that). But now my life is based in other things that do not include high profile professional development, so I enjoy having the time to devote to those out of work things and my part time job just ticks a box in terms of giving some extra money, a "change of scenery", etc.

Before I lived to work now I get my satisfaction from other sources and getting promoted at such job would actually mean having less time for those things I care more for.

Actually... I'm quite annoyed at my hours being increased. It is still part time job but I was much better with less.

jampot · 17/05/2007 01:04

i worked part time because of childcare committments - my salary was possibly better p/t than it would have been f/t.

i currently freelance and work around my children which suits me (and them) perfectly

SofiaAmes · 17/05/2007 05:19

Do you really care or are you just trying to start an argument. Seems fairly obvious why it's nearly always women who do this...duh...women have babies and therefore generally have a larger share of the household and childcare burden/duties than men.

Not sure you really care, but I work part time because I enjoy working, but I also want to be there to spend time with my children. The being underpaid and being passed up for promotion seems to be something that's more job specific. I get a completely proportional salary for the hours that I work and I have already gotten several raises and bonuses (along the lines of the other full time employees) in the 1.5 years that I have been at my current job. In any case, as someone else mentioned, I would not want a promotion that resulted in responsibilities that prevented me from spending the time with my children that I do.

I think it's really wrong that you would indiscriminately discourage your junior staff from working part time. For some women (and men) it is an ideal solution to being a parent and having a career (or job). Surely if lots of your colleagues in the NHS have made the choice to work part time, there must be something worthwhile for them in the concept, even if there isn't for you.

twentypence · 17/05/2007 05:29

Because maybe because you discourage them they feel they have to to spite you

popsycal · 17/05/2007 05:57

Not sure I understand the question. Why do people work part time?
Because they want to spend time with their children AND work. Childcare also factors in to our equation too.

Also if I tried to do a full time teaching job (which equates to full time and then some during term time) I think I would go crazy.

earlgrey · 17/05/2007 05:58

More time at home, but still some sane time, perhaps?

popsycal · 17/05/2007 05:59

already been up over an hour and most of the night and have to teach today. Thanks GOD that I am not working tomorrow and it does not matter that I can't string a sentence together. WIll only have 2 children looking at me crazily rather than 32....

Jamantha · 17/05/2007 06:17

Well, my application to work part-time next year, when I return from ML, is now being processed. I'm asking for it so that I can spend time with my child, yet give me something other than childcare to do some of the time, keep some of my income while keeping childcare costs to reasonable level, and allow me to maintain some experience in my work so that should I want to resume full time work in the future my chances of doing so are better than if I'd given up work entirely. Nothing here has made me want to go screaming to retract my application. And where I work two thirds of the management team, and a few other senior staff, are women who worked part time while their children wer younger, and some of them (including some of the management team) still do work part time, so I don't think it automatically precludes career enhancement.

noonar · 17/05/2007 06:58

mohze, as a teacher, who has to work lots of unpaid extra hours, p/t work is alot of work for little of the salary, so i do see your point.

i wanted to keep my hand in, as it is easy to become deskilled in some professions.

i think some posters have reacted a little harshly to your op, btw.

kid · 17/05/2007 07:03

I worked part-time after having my children. I did it because I liked my job and didn't want to leave. I didn't want to return full-time as I wanted to spend time with my children.
I am now back in the same job full-time as my children are old enough to be in full-time school. I did not miss out on promotion, nor did I work for half the wage. I got paid for the hours I did.

WideWebWitch · 17/05/2007 07:09

You shouldn't 'actively discourage' staff from doing it - I hope you're not a manager.

And I think the question is disingenuous.

renaldo · 17/05/2007 07:41

Now lots of junior male doctors in the NHS work part time beacuse of family commitments
move with the times motze!

OrmIrian · 17/05/2007 07:55

Eh?

You really don't know? Even assuming you didn't want some time with your children, not everyone earns enough even full-time to cover wrap around childcare, or enough to pay someone to clean or iron.

nailpolish · 17/05/2007 07:57

someone is definitely trying to start an argument

OrmIrian · 17/05/2007 07:58

D'you think?

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 17/05/2007 08:00

NP - hit the nail....ahem...on the head.

Large spoon anyone?

talcycharlesandeddy · 17/05/2007 08:03

I'm not getting involved

But i do work part time
Because i have no choice

Damn, now i'm involved

milge · 17/05/2007 08:04

It is called work life balance - I feel sorry for your staff if that is your real attitude, or are you just trying to start a fight?