Everyone is looking for flexible work opportunities in this thriving digital world and when the options are not remote, a lot of people consider part-time jobs. But what exactly is a part-time job and how many hours does it involve to be called part time and not a full-time job?
Maybe you are an employer planning work shifts or a job seeker who is looking for more work-life balance, you must have the basic understanding of the part time job model.
Understanding part-time job
A part-time job is a type of employment where a person works less hours than someone working full time like from morning to evening or evening to morning. There is no single, fixed number of hours that defines part-time work but it generally consists of less than 35 to 40 hours per week.
The exact number may vary on the basis of the employer, industry, and country. For example, in some organizations, anyone working less than 30 hours per week is seen as part-time, while others may have set the limit at 25 hours.
Still, what matters most is how a company labels the role and what is written in the final employment contract.
How many hours is part-time per day?
Part-time job hours per day can be different in different regions. Still, a few schedules of part-time job hours look like the following:
- 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, which totals 20 hours.
- 5 to 6 hours per day and 3 to 4 days a week
- 2 to 3 hours per day for roles like tutoring, customer service, and delivery
Some part-time workers may also work in shifts at the time of peak hours, like morning or evening. A good example of the same is retail and hospitality jobs.
Factors dropping influence on part-time hours
There are few factors that can influence how many hours a part-time employee works per day.
- Company policy where an employer may have internal rules or policies that define the part-time and full-time status.
- Job roles as some jobs naturally require fewer hours, like a job as a receptionist in a small clinic may only require 4 hours a day of work.
- Employee availability because students, parents, and individuals with other commitments may only be available for limited hours every day.
- Legal Guidelines because in some countries, the labor laws limit or define the part-time status that employers have to agree to.
Benefits for Part-Time Jobs
For the employees, part-time jobs deliver great flexibility and can help maintain a better work-life balance. They are quite popular among
- Students
- Parents with young children
- Retired individuals looking for extra income
- People finding career changes
For employers, part-time employees help manage peak workloads, reduce the overtime costs and maintain flexibility in staffing.
Read Also:- A Complete Guide on Employee Management System
Managing the part-time staff
Any organization planning to hire part time staff has to manage their work schedules dedicatedly and clearly. This consists of tracking their hours, shift assigning, and making sure about the compliance with labour laws.
Here an employee scheduling and time-tracking system can make a huge difference. With the help of the right HRMS software, one can easily schedule shifts, monitor the attendance, and calculate the payroll for both full-time and part-time employees. It saves time for HR managers and makes sure that no one is underworking or overworking.
Such systems also help employees as they can stay informed about their schedules, upcoming tasks, and working hours building overall transparency and satisfaction in organization.
Part time vs Full-time- What are the Key Differences?
Here is a quick comparison between the part-time and full-time work models.
| Aspect | Part-Time | Full-Time |
Weekly Hours | Less than 35-40 hours | 35-40 hours or more |
| Benefits | May be limited or not included | Usually includes full benefits |
| Flexibility | More flexible schedules | More fixed, regular hours |
| Job Type | Often hourly wage | Often salaried |
Make note that part-time workers are not always receiving the same benefits as the full-time workers, like health insurance or paid leave. Still, it depends on the local laws and the policies of companies.
Ending Words
There is no one answer that fits all answers related to how many hours a part-time job involves in a day. It can be from a couple of hours to around 6 hours, depending on the role and organization requirements. For businesses, the management of part-time employees can be complex without the right tools in place.
That is why employee scheduling tools can be of great help. It simplifies the management of the workforce with the best of productivity and compliance to help the part-time teams be more informed and feel connected.
