| A part-time job is employment which typically | | | | part-time jobs. |
| constitutes fewer than 35, or even 30, working hours a | | | | Virtually every industry and sector has certain jobs |
| week. Stereotypically deemed the domain of students | | | | which are offered on a part-time basis. The Customer |
| and parents, part-time jobs carry many advantages | | | | Service sector, in particular, comprises a number of |
| for people in every situation in life. | | | | part-time roles. Part-time jobs also vary according to |
| With hours that do not reach a full working week, | | | | season. During the Christmas period, for example, jobs |
| there is much greater scope for flexibility. An individual, | | | | available in retail tend to increase as employers require |
| in collaboration with the employer concerned, is able to | | | | extra staff to facilitate and manage the heightened |
| organize a schedule which does not follow the | | | | turnover. This can also be seen in the tourism industry: |
| straight-forward 9-5, Monday to Friday pattern, | | | | in simple terms, the winter creates a plethora of jobs in |
| sometimes choosing weekend jobs in order to pursue | | | | ski resorts, while the summer leads to the re-opening |
| other interests throughout the week. This fluidity is | | | | of holiday resorts, all of which have to be staffed. |
| conducive to a better work-life balance, and it grants | | | | Such jobs are deemed part-time, then, because of |
| the individual time to focus on other areas other than | | | | their shorter term contracts. This is of course a very |
| their job - be that time with their family, their studies or | | | | basic representation of the variance of part-time work, |
| any other activities. Due to the diverse nature of | | | | but it nonetheless gives an idea of its flexibility. |
| part-time jobs (they can range from a mere 1 hour per | | | | Related to the issue of part-time jobs is the notion of |
| week to over 30), a person can even co-ordinate - | | | | job sharing. This is where 2 people - or more - share |
| either for reasons of necessity or enjoyment - holding | | | | the hours and responsibilities of a full-time position. As |
| several jobs simultaneously. | | | | we have observed with part-time work in general, |
| It must be noted that those in part-time jobs are | | | | there is good scope for flexibility with this arrangement. |
| entitled to the same statutory employment benefits as | | | | The individuals sharing the job may opt for a split within |
| those in full-time jobs. However, part-time employees | | | | a working day (one working the morning, the other the |
| do not always receive the same company-particular | | | | afternoon) or within a working week (one fulfilling the |
| advantages and allowances as their full-time | | | | requirements of the position on Monday and Tuesday, |
| counterparts. Benefits such as insurance, sick pay and | | | | for example, and the other on the remaining days of |
| pension funds, which vary from company to company, | | | | the week). There are no concrete guidelines for such |
| are occasionally offered on different terms (and | | | | an arrangement, so it can be worked out to the mutual |
| sometimes not at all) to people in part-time positions. | | | | benefit of those involved. |
| Individuals holding part-time jobs receive the same | | | | The advantages of part-time jobs are ample: they |
| rights of pay as those in full-time positions, but | | | | grant more free time for those who can afford the |
| obviously tend to earn a lower salary on account of | | | | luxury, and they enable those who may ultimately be |
| the diminished time working. If your lifestyle is suited to | | | | seeking full-time employment to keep a foot in the |
| this, both in terms of money and time, there are a | | | | working world. |
| great number of options available for those seeking | | | | |