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The army of part-time workers is growing, with an increasing proportion of the working
population choosing to spend less time at work. Reasons for wanting to escape the nine-to-five
routine vary, from childcare commitments, needing extra time to study or starting a business
to simply pursuing other interests.
Part-time rights
Part-time workers have the same rights as full-timers in the following areas:
- Rates of pay (pro-rata). (See totaljobs' salary checker.)
- Access to pension schemes and benefits.
- Access to training and career development.
- Holiday entitlement.
- Entitlement to career break schemes, sick pay, maternity and paternal pay.
Check out your rights.
- Treatment in the selection criteria for promotion and transfer
- Redundancy rights.
This is to ensure that employers end unjustifiable discrimination against
workers looking to work part-time, and also to encourage skilled people back
to the workplace after taking career breaks and childcare breaks.
In addition, in tougher economic periods, firms offer workers flexible work
patterns with shorter hours, which prevents redundancies and puts businesses
in a strong position to compete when the upturn comes.
How is part-time working defined?
There is no minimum or maximum number of hours that constitutes part-time work. Instead, a part-timer
is defined as a worker who works less than the normal hours for their role, for a particular employer.
Finding part-time work
To be a successful part-timer, you need good up-to-date skills. But be warned - adverts for
appropriate or well paid part-time jobs can be hard to find.
It is also worth contacting recruitment agencies,
as most now deal with some part-time positions.
Pros:
- Escape the nine-to-five routine and establish a good work/life balance.
- Legislation bans employers from discriminating against part-timers.
- Almost any job can be adapted to part-time working (or job-share).
Cons:
- Fewer job adverts for quality, well paid part-time positions.
- A misconception that flexible working can't work for managers.
- No law to require bosses to let people go part-time.
Can you be a part-time manager?
Traditionally, senior management positions have not been considered suitable for part-time work. However, research by flexible working company The Resource Connection and the Industrial Society revealed flexible working among senior managers, including part-timers and job sharers, can significantly improve performance at work, with 70 per cent of their sample rated by their bosses as outperforming full-time colleagues. They also scored higher on resilience, leadership and commitment.
Further information:
New Ways to Work is a UK organisation, which advises on flexible working arrangements. The helpline (020 7503 3578) is available 10am-4pm Tuesday to Thursday.
Search for part-time jobs with totaljobs.com.
Register for jobs by email.
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