The Challenges (and Rewards) of Part-Time Work

tips for part-timers

Good article, very helpful. I also got some exremely helpful, practical suggestions from a blog post on Harvard Business called Three Tips for Part-Timers. The author is Steven Demaio, and I started using the tips already. I'm sure if you google it you can find it. I'm trying to get advice from all quarters these days.

Erin M of VA @ Jul 17, 2009 09:25:07 AM

Would like to see more

I agree with most of the posters here that these are great opportunities, but rare to find. I'd personally love to see more on the jobshare front. I floated the idea a couple of times to my employer at the time and was shot down, the first time after some consideration, the second time without any thought. It was too bad, as this company typically offers flexible work and often tops the list of Working Mother's best places to work. I don't get it--I would see it as two for the price of one and the end product would probably be better.

I'd also say that you need to be careful if you're trying to take a full-time role and make it part-time. I've blogged about my own experiences with it: http://dichotomom.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-work-in-half-time-can-it-be-done.html It can be a challenge.

I love that the dialogue has started, though. Let's keep talking about professional part-time work and jobshares and hopefully soon these terms will become part of the lexicon and much less scary to employers.

JB of MA @ Jul 06, 2009 10:53:58 AM

Great article.

It is fortunate that so many women are able to find part time work in order to watch over their children. Unfortunately, many women are not in a position to only take a part time job while still being able to provide for their family. What is needed to combat that problem is workplace flexibility. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make flexibility an option for full time hourly workers. The private sector is still not allowed to give their employees the option of having comp time in lieu of overtime pay, even though the government extended this option to its hourly employees in 1978. What’s wrong with that picture? Considering 63% of women are hourly workers, and they are the ones who need flexibility most because of family demands, we should be fighting for equal amounts of flexibility in the public and private sector. www.familyissues.ncpa.org

Congress and the Obama Administration are pushing for health care reform that will move the US health care system closer to that of Canada or the UK. You can help stop a government takeover of health care from happening. Send a message to the White House and Congress by signing the “Free Our Health Care Now” petition. Go to www.freeourhealthcarenow.com and sign the petition today!

Terry Neese of TX @ Jun 26, 2009 17:46:14 PM

Which companies hire part-time?

Great article, but I would love to hear which companies are hiring part-time corporate workers. From what i've seen you can create a part-time gig if you've worked at that company before and they know your strengths and work ethic. unfortunately it is extremely difficult to find a part time corporate position at a company you've never dealt with before. why aren't companies offering those part time gigs more widely? that is what i'd love for you to write about next.

karen of NJ @ Jun 26, 2009 14:59:30 PM

Highlight the benefits to the employer

Sharon,

Thanks for the excellent article. It reminds working moms that they don't necessarily have to choose between only two options -staying home full-time or working full-time. When putting together a proposal for part-time, it's critically important to highlight the benefits to the EMPLOYER. For example, will this flexible arrangement increase retention of key staff, saving them time and effort to train new staff? The reduction in hours could prove to be a cost-effective solution for them too. Focus on the goals that could be achieved and projects that could be completed in your part-time proposal. Highlighting "what's in it for them" will increase your probability of getting it approved.

Rose Cook, President, FlexPro Staffing of PA @ Jun 25, 2009 17:00:46 PM

Part-time Work

Kudos for the excellent article! However, I would have liked to have head more from employers who successfully employ part-time (professional-level) workers. The benefits to the individuals, specifically moms, were illustrated in the article. The true winners are the savvy employers who are forward-thinking enough to create flexible schedules to accommodate moms, students, retirees, those who choose to work part-time, and those who need a relevant second income (aka those that mirror the needs of today's job seeker).

ilyse Shapiro, founder MyPartTimePRO.com of PA @ Jun 25, 2009 12:34:01 PM