in many organizations, one differentiation between full-time
and part-time employees is eligibility forbenefitssuch
ashealth insurance,paid time off (PTO),paid vacation days,
andsick leave. Some organizations enable part-time employees to collect a
pro-rated set of benefits. In other organizations, part-time status makes an
employee ineligible for any benefits. Part-time employees are benefitting from
employers’ willingness to consider work schedule options such asflexible
schedulesandjob sharing
Considerable reasons exist for why employers might consider
hiring part-time staff.
- Many
employers hire part-time employees to cut down on their costs of labor.
They can save substantially by not offering benefits to part-time staff.
For a small business owner, hiring first employees, starting with
part-time staff is less risky in terms of financial commitment.
- Additionally,
not all jobs require the services of an employee full time. Combining jobs
may not fit the employee's skill set even if the employer had a second
part time job available.
- You
may want to consider hiring part-time employees to expand your ability to
recruit qualified employees. For example, a stay at home parent may have
the exact qualifications you need but the individual is only available to
work outside of the home from 9 until 3. College students often seek
part-time work. Another person may work as a freelance writer but seek the
cushion of a part time job for times when assignments are lean. A retiree
may seek part-time work to supplement his income, alleviate boredom, or
because he wants to feel gainfully contributing again. (With retirees,
employees gain knowledge and a mentor for younger, less experienced
staff.)
- Another
advantage to hiring part-time employees is you have the opportunity to try
an employee out before you commit to hiring him full time. This helps
employers assess the individual's cultural fit, job fit, skills, and
ability to learn and contribute.
Disadvantages to Hiring Part-Time Employees
- Some
employers believe that part-time employees are not as committed to their
employer and to their job.
- They
may also take longer to learn the company culture, how to get work done in
the organization, and the components of their own job.
- Part-time
staffs are more difficult to retain, especially if the individual wants to
work full-time and a full-time job never materializes.
Part-time employees may belong in your organization. The
best match occurs when both the employer and the employee see part-time work as
a win.