# Workplace Surgery — why did they only offer part-time after I quit?

- **Episode:** [204](https://agents.truthliesandwork.com/episodes/204.md) (2025-06-10)
- **Type:** workplace-surgery
- **Tags:** part-time, resignation, career
- **Time:** 51:45–57:09 (start 3105s)
- **Listen:** [https://truthliesandwork.com/204?t=3105](https://truthliesandwork.com/204?t=3105)

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[51:45] Al Elliott: Absolutely. It's a good look. Let us know how it goes. Okay. Question number 3. Why did they only offer what I asked for after I quit? Oh no. This person works in the public sector. Said, like a lot of people, I've been hybrid for a while, one day a week in the office, which went really well. But we were told in February that full-time office attendance was mandatory again. Since then, it's been awful. I'm stuck in traffic, paying to park, don't see my dog, who's left alone for 10 hours
[52:12] Leanne Elliott: Oh
[52:13] Al Elliott: Um, I asked to go part-time in February. They said no. I kept asking month after month. They still said no. Last week I got a job offer elsewhere. Well done. Yay. Before accepting it, I double-checked with senior management. Is part-time definitely not an option? They said no. So I resigned. And a few days later, suddenly they came back to me and says— my— this is my current employer— came back to me and said they can offer part-time. Honestly, I'm furious. Why wait until I quit to offer the only one thing I've been asking for? Is this just the way it goes in some workplaces, or is there some power play going on, Leanne?
[52:45] Leanne Elliott: I think that's how things work in the public sector typically. I'm not sure it's a power play. I'm not sure it's that, that deep or intentional. I think my— and this is very stereotypical and possibly very unfair— my experience of public sector— I've worked in various public sector organisations or with various public sector organisations and departments— is there's very much like a A closed-mindedness. It's like, well, we don't do that. Computer says no. They just don't have the flexibility of thought or systems or process. And I understand because typically these organizations are machines, but a lot of leaders don't always think they have that flexibility within their teams and departments. And typically they do. Um, or it just seems too hard, or they don't want you to go part-time because they value you as a full-time employee. I think just, it's very typical of a public sector organization mindset, whereas if it's not broken, we won't fix it. And you broke it when you quit, so they tried to fix it. The real question is, how much do you care? I understand that you're furious. I would be furious too, because you've tried in a really flexible way, at financial detriment to yourself, to solve this problem. So I guess it's at this point, if they've let you down that much, An organization like that probably isn't going to change very quickly. Then what happens the next time? Say you stay, you go back. What happens when you have another request? What happens when your dog is ill and you need to take them to the vets? What happens if you suddenly get some caring responsibilities and you require that flexibility around working from home again? It sounds like you're not being over-demanding, but your life requires some degree of flexibility, and you work at your best when you have that flexibility. So, my advice would be find an organisation who's willing to give you that flexibility, whether that be part-time or full-time, whatever works best for you. At this point, I would double-check with the organisation who's offered you a job that they are flexible, that they do offer these things and have offered them for a time. Maybe try and get in touch with some people via LinkedIn to get their views on it very subtly, and then make a decision. Because the worst thing is probably going to be if you go to this new organisation, they're as rigid as the old organisation, because it's kind of at this point, So that's all I'd say. But ultimately, it sounds like this public sector organisation isn't for you in the long term. Um, so my thoughts would be it might be time to move on
[55:13] Al Elliott: If you did want to stay, then you're in a good negotiating position. Yeah, if they want you to stay, you go part-time. Yeah, but, um, I want full-time hours, full-time pay, or something like that. I mean, maybe not full-time pay, but you could potentially angle that. But then, you know, Are if you're not happy, you can leave. you just creating resentment? Are you just creating a problem for yourself down the line? Is your line manager gonna be like, why, why is he getting paid more than me? He or she, sorry, I don't think he actually said. That was an assumption on my part, wasn't it? That was terrible. Um, so yeah, good, good luck with it. That's a tough one. Um, let us know how it goes. Um, I think— I personally agree with Leanne. I think you should ditch this company, go organization, go and work for the other one, but just don't expect it all to be roses and whatever the phrase is. It might be, um, might have its own challenges
[55:57] Leanne Elliott: Yeah. And I think if you are really looking for something that is, is flexible, if these, you know, these shifts really have a significant impact on your, your performance and your wellbeing, it might be time to, to think more broadly about the organisations and industries you want to work in. And, and typically smaller businesses, as we've just heard from our previous, uh, question, typically are much more open-minded And flexible when it comes to these types of adjustments within the workplace. So, yeah, it might be time to leave public sector and maybe look at a small business. And I understand people typically want to stay in public sector because it's always felt very secure and job for life. I'm not sure that's the case anymore with everything we're seeing. So, I don't think that's as big a reason to stay anymore. So, yeah, maybe start to think about actually what type of industry, organisation, sector is going to be best for me
[56:49] Al Elliott: Absolutely. So that's all for now. You need to join us on Thursday. Well, first of all, join us next Tuesday for a new edition of This Week in Work. And then this Thursday, we've got a fascinating conversation with Dr. Cheryl Robinson, who is an expert in communication and also shares Leanne and I's hatred for corporate speak