More time for things outside of work
The basic idea behind working part-time is to have more time away from work for other things. The fundamental advantages of part-time work also go hand in hand with this motivation: For example, by reducing working hours, work and family can be better reconciled. In this way, many mothers and fathers are able to look after the children and the household as well. However, the desired reduction in working hours can also have health reasons. Part-time employees are able to take better care of themselves and use the free time they have gained to improve their own well-being. Improving the work-life balance plays a special role in these aspects. Apart from that, however, part-time work can also serve to intensify part-time efforts. For example, employees who would like to venture into self-employment can set up their own company as part of a part-time job. All in all, the reduction in working hours offers the great advantage of being able to do more for your personal interests.
The so-called “part-time trap”
In addition to the advantages, part-time work also has certain disadvantages and risks. An employee has a right to a reduction in working hours, but no right to a repeated increase in working hours. So if you start a permanent part-time job, going back to a full-time position can be quite problematic. If the employer sees no need to increase the employee’s working hours to the previous level, the employee must remain in his part-time job. However, the reduced working hours are also associated with reduced income, which may not be sufficient to cover one’s own livelihood in the long term. This problem is called the “part-time trap”. Employees are therefore “trapped” in part-time employment over the long term and are gradually threatened by poverty. In addition, part-time work is a hindrance to a career. If you want to advance in your career, you have to give your all and be able to prove yourself. Part-time employees, on the other hand, are less available and tend to remain in the background.
Flexibility for the employer
Not only employees but also employers have advantages from part-time employment. Depending on the order situation, part-time work can help companies to better adapt human resources to actual needs. If, for example, there is currently a lull in demand, part-time employment can save costs. In general, part-time models make it easier to react to economic fluctuations and regulate the deployment of staff accordingly. According to the “Sage” blog, part-time work should also lead to increased productivity and less absenteeism among employees. The shorter working hours would therefore increase motivation and make employees less tired.
Higher administrative costs for companies
As a disadvantage for the employer, “Sage” lists an increase in the cost per job. From the point of view of the administration, the management of two part-time employees should be more complex than that of one full-time employee. Among other things, this would be due to the fact that workplace costs and administrative expenses would increase. For example, in payroll accounting, two processes have to be carried out for part-time employees. According to information from “Sage”, however, the increased costs of part-time work should be amortized within a year.
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