Part-Time Employee
HR Glossary for HR Professionals
Glossary of the most common HR terms and acronyms to assist professionals navigating the ever-growing and ever-changing world of HR terminology.
Part-Time Employee
What is a Part-Time Employee?
While the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn’t define what constitutes a part-time employee, they are generally defined by each individual employer’s policy. Typically, these policies will define part-time as an employee who works less than 40 hours per week.
What differentiates a part-time employee from a full-time employee?
Most often, employers will differentiate these employees with the eligibility for non, or only some of the benefits the organization provides. Typically, part-time employees are not eligible for health insurance and a limited number of PTO days.
On the other hand, some people and organizations look at part-time employees as a benefit itself due to the flexible schedule and job sharing capabilities.
Why should an employer hire part-time employees?
There are many reasons why an employer may consider hiring part-time employees, such as:
- Cut in labor costs.
- Opportunity to expand in number of qualified employees.
- You can hire part-time to try out an employee prior to hiring full-time.
Why shouldn’t an employer hire a part-time employee?
- Some believe that part-time employees aren’t as committed to the work and the company.
- They tend to take longer to learn the culture and job duties.
- They are more difficult to retain.
Related Terms: Full-Time Employee, FLSA, DOL