If you work PT are you often asked to increase your hours?

[Chipstick]

My employer has always been really accomodating and over the years I have had a variety of contracts and hours.

I was promoted 2yrs ago and was job sharing, wen my job share left I was asked if I could increase my days - I did to 4.

I've now been offered a move to a really exciting project but the offer came with 'of course if you could go to five days that would be fantastic - no pressure but give it some thought'.

Makes me really cross, I alreay do 5 days work in 4 days but its always an issue that I'm PT

I work PT, and when any comments are made about me not being available for meetings etc, I always remind them that I get paid part-time too!

Presumably the really exciting project is a full time job? If so and you want to do it part time do you have a proposal about how the rest of the job would be done? If the new project is a full time job and they are not insisting but are saying it would be fantastic that sounds fair enough to me.

But if comments keep being made then also fair enough to have a chat with your manager and just reiterate that you won't be wanting to increase your hours, would be happy to discuss any issues around your workload but would prefer not to be on the receiving end of further comments as you are feeling pressurised into increasing your hours which you don't want to do.

Sorry I know you asked for people in same situation which I am not but I am nosy and look at all the EMployment threads and then post if I have an opinion...

yes, I did, so eventually went to 5 days and it was so much better. I certainly do no more work over 5 days than I did in 4 but now I get paid full time.

Thanks for all your comments - I think its the whole guilt thing that goes with being a working mum. I would love to work 5 days but my DH is already so accomodating dropping off & picking up 4 days of the week (he works shifts)that I don't want to push my luck!

They have offered me the project at 4 days but it came with the comment about perhaps 5 days would be better blah blah.

Foxinsocks, now you work FT you say it is much better - how is home life though? I think thats my biggest concern.

oh home life all over the place lol

no, seriously, both kids are at school and we have a nanny so in terms of the children, I don't think it has made that much difference. In terms of me and dh, it has been a nightmare as he works different days to me (he works weekends quite often) so we aren't seeing each other that much and that is hard (but then again, we didn't see each other that much when i wasn't full time).

I think it ends up being harder on you than anyone else because it's tiring working and commuting every single day and then filling your weekend with family stuff.

Your marriage sounds similar to mine - due to his shifts we're often passing ships in the night!

He'll come in tonight at 1130 and I'll leave at 710 for work in the morning - still last day tomorrow then a weeks holiday. I think when you do work Holidays away are so important just to break the routine and enjoy family life .

Going to give the whole working hours issue a long thought whilst away and DH & I will see what we can sort out.

yes, I agree with you Chip, especially in reference to the holidays. I'm about to have my first week off (not next week, the week after) and I can't wait.

I tell you what I have found invaluable - I went to my boss and told him I was happy to do full time but what I would like is that, every so often, I could do a Friday from home so I didn't have to commute in and could take the kids to school etc. I'm doing one today . I'm still annoyingly busy and the phone hasn't stopped ringing from work grrr but it is so much more relaxing than going in and I know, from now onwards, work will get quieter and I can be away from the computer.

That might be a good compromise. I think the key for you is that you are already doing full time hours but not getting paid for them (if you see what I mean).