A good time to be part-time

Amazingly, there are over 8 million part-time workers in the UK at present - that’s a quarter of the UK workforce – across all ages, with women making up the largest part.

Recent research into part-time working by Timewise has shown that there has been a significant shift in attitude towards becoming part-time with it no longer carrying such a stigma with the rest of the workforce.

Why go part-time?

Post pandemic, and in the throes of a cost of living crisis it can be a great way to stay in work, get back in work (43% of the over 50’s apparently embrace it, no doubt older workers propping up their pensions), or create a better work-life balance. If it suits you, why not?

For years part-time workers may have been seen as unambitious, lacking commitment and probably only fit for junior roles. But no more, as the survey has highlighted a shift in attitudes.

Career Progression

There is no doubt that working part-time can be seen as a brake on your career ambition and progression, although it is now firmly part of our ‘flexible-working’ landscape. Men, in particular, view it as a career breaker, which is no doubt why many do not opt for it. Women, on the other hand see it as an ideal way to combine work with other responsibilities that eat into their working week.

As the future of work patterns develops, particularly with the advent of AI and the need for a more mobile and flexible workforce, part-time working could be the key to continued success, especially if it combines with job-sharing and more hybrid working at the same time.

The Law

Even if bosses and co-workers don’t like it, by law (via The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000), you are protected from being treated less favourably than a full-time worker.

Benefits

If you can afford to work part-time (and who is to say you don’t have more than one part-time job as sometimes the role may not be worth full-time) there are many benefits such as flexible hours/days, reduced stress, more time to do other things, the ability to respond to opportunities that come along as more time for family and friends. What’s not to like?

The business can see benefits as well through retaining good workers who want more flexibility, reducing costs for roles that do not merit being full-time, an ability to meet sudden demands which in turn can potentially reduce the workload of current employees.