Understanding Part-Time and Full-Time Hours

Part-Time and Full-Time Hours

Complete Employers Guide to Part-Time and Full-Time Hours

Most businesses regard 30 to 35 hours per week to be part-time. Part-time employment is not specifically defined by the federal government; as a result, employers define part-time employment differently at each organization.

How Many Hours Are in a Full Day?

Anyone working 30 or more hours per week, or 130 or more hours per month, is considered to be working full-time by the IRS and the Affordable Care Act (often known as Obamacare). Full-time employment is not defined by the U.S. Department of Labor.

If your business is not regarded by the IRS as an Applicable Large Employer (ALE), then these definitions could not apply to you. Companies with less than 50 workers are often not regarded as ALEs, however, this is subject to change for a variety of reasons.

For the purpose of getting certain benefits, state laws may also define full-time, and legislation like COBRA may also have an impact.

Part-time vs. Full-Time Employment

Full-time employees normally put in between 32 and 40 hours per week; part-time workers often put in fewer. Health insurance and perks are often not very generous for part-time workers. A part-time worker frequently lacks access to paid time off, healthcare, and paid sick leave.

Establishing Part-Time Jobs at Your Business:

Making full-time and part-time employee classifications at your organization has a number of benefits.

Of course, having certain employees who do not receive all benefits saves you money. Having set hours is also advantageous for both you and the part-time employee.

For instance, hiring a part-time employee to explicitly cover such gaps in your calendar on particular days and at certain times might be beneficial. Some job searchers might also choose to have a more constrained timetable.

The number of hours they put in may not be sufficient to cover the cost of some perks when you create part-time roles.

However, it is frequently advised against hiring too many part-timers because it might hinder production. In general, workers are less productive the less time they spend fully engaged in their work and the culture of the organization.

What Part-Time Jobs Are The Best?

Part-time employment has historically been more common in industries like retail, fast food, and hospitality because of the necessity for flexible scheduling to meet demand fluctuations. 

However, in order to provide flexibility for both the employee and the company, more professionals are increasingly working part-time.

A part-time employee may occasionally be required to work overtime hours when a company is experiencing its busiest time of year, a full-time employee is absent, or another situation arises.

Overtime for Part-Time Workers:

Part-time employees may occasionally find themselves working overtime or more than 40 hours per week. The FLSA’s exempt and non-exempt employee requirements apply to overtime paid to part-time employees. Part-time employees almost certainly need to be paid overtime, but make sure you read the regulations first.

Part-time employees can find themselves working full-time hours for a lengthy period when what once appeared to be a temporary adjustment turned out to be a long-term one.

When Does a Part-Time Employee Switch to Full-Time Work?

IRS and ERISA breaches may result if a part-time employee routinely works full-time but does not get full-time benefits. 

In order to uniformly provide benefits throughout your firm, you’ll want to establish a clear policy that specifies when a part-time employee turns into a full-time worker.

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