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Choosing whether to offer full-time or part-time hours for a role is a key decision that can impact the flexibility, cost and overall productivity of the employee. Understanding what part time hours are and how they differ from full-time employment can help you make informed choices that align with your company’s needs.
In this guide, we’ll answer a variety of important questions, including “How many hours is part time?” and “What are the minimum hours for part time in the UK?” as well as highlighting the legal considerations such as maximum part-time hours, and the pros and cons of both employment types.
How many hours is full time?
In the UK, full-time roles usually involve working between 35 and 40 hours per week, although this can vary depending on the industry and company policies. According to the Working Time Regulations, employees shouldn’t work more than 48 hours a week, unless they specifically opt out. This helps to support a healthy work-life balance, as well as preventing employers from taking advantage of their workers. It’s important to be aware of this limit when it comes to taking overtime hours.
How many hours is part time?
Part-time hours can range anywhere from a few hours per week up to around 30 hours, depending on the role and any agreement with the employer. While there’s no strict definition, the minimum hours for part-time UK workers usually starts at around 8 to 10 hours per week. This could be in a single day, or split across the whole week. Part-time employment offers a better work-life balance compared to full-time employment, with the compromise of a lower salary.
Are employment laws different for part-time workers?
Both full-time and part-time workers in the UK are protected by a range of employment laws, including minimum wage regulations, holiday entitlements, statutory sick pay, and protection against discrimination. Employers must treat people working part-time hours fairly and can’t offer them less favourable terms compared to their full-time counterparts.
While they are protected by the same laws and entitled to employee benefits, these may be applied pro rata, or in proportion to hours worked, for part-time workers. For example, if an employee working 40 hours a week is eligible for 28 days’ annual leave, an employee in the same position working 20 hours a week would be entitled to 14 days’ annual leave.
What are the pros of full-time employees?
Hiring full-time employees offers several benefits for your business, helping to enhance stability and foster a committed workforce.
Greater consistency and reliability
Full-time employees work set hours, making them more likely to be available when needed, ensuring that business operations run smoothly. This reliability is crucial for roles that require constant attention, such as customer service, operations or team management, helping to maintain quality and efficiency throughout the organisation.
Increased productivity
Full-time staff generally have a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities. With more hours to dedicate to their tasks, they can manage their workloads more effectively, leading to increased productivity. Full-time hours also encourage initiative and innovation, as employees have more time to develop ideas and see projects through to completion.
Better team integration
Full-time employees spend more time in the workplace, giving them ample opportunity to build strong relationships with colleagues and fully integrate into the team. This enhanced collaboration can lead to better communication, fewer misunderstandings and a more cohesive working environment. Team integration is especially important for fostering a positive company culture, where employees feel valued and willing to support one another.
Improved employee loyalty
Investing in full-time employees often leads to increased loyalty and lower staff turnover rates. Full-time workers tend to feel more secure and appreciated in their roles, with greater career development opportunities. This sense of stability can lead to a more engaged workforce, where employees are motivated to contribute to the company’s success and are less likely to seek employment elsewhere.
What are the cons of full-time employees?
While full-time employees bring many advantages, they also present some challenges for businesses.
Reduced flexibility
Full-time contracts can restrict a business’ ability to adapt quickly to changing market demands. For instance, during quieter periods, you may still need to pay full-time salaries, even if there’s less work available. This lack of flexibility can make it harder to adjust staffing levels efficiently, potentially leading to inefficiencies and increased labour costs.
Higher fixed costs
Hiring full-time employees comes with higher fixed costs, including salaries, employee benefits, pension contributions and paid leave. This can quickly add up, particularly for small businesses or those operating on tight margins. Full-time staff often represent a significant financial commitment, regardless of fluctuations in workload.
Increased risk of burnout
The demands placed on full-time employees can lead to burnout, especially in high-pressure roles or industries with heavy workloads. Over time, longer hours and constant work demands can affect employee wellbeing, leading to decreased morale, higher absenteeism, and reduced productivity. Managing workloads carefully and promoting a healthy work-life balance, for example by implementing duvet days, are essential to mitigating these risks.
Difficulty replacing talent
Replacing full-time employees can be time consuming and costly. Recruitment, training and onboarding processes often require significant time and resources, and finding the right fit can be challenging. High turnover rates among full-time staff can disrupt team dynamics and result in lost productivity, so it’s crucial to focus on retention strategies and employee satisfaction.
What are the pros of part-time employees?
Employees working part-time hours offer distinct advantages, particularly for businesses seeking flexibility, lower costs, and access to diverse talent.
Greater flexibility
Part-time employees provide businesses with the flexibility to adjust staffing levels based on current needs. This is particularly beneficial for industries with fluctuating workloads, such as retail or hospitality, where demand varies seasonally or during peak times. By employing part-time staff, businesses can easily scale up or down without the long-term commitment of full-time contracts.
Lower fixed costs
Hiring part-time staff reduces payroll expenses, as these employees typically earn lower total wages compared to full-time workers. This cost-effective staffing solution can help businesses to manage their budgets more efficiently, making it an attractive option for companies that need to keep overheads low.
Access to on-demand skills
Part-time roles allow businesses to fill skills gaps without the financial commitment of a full-time hire. This is ideal for short-term projects, specific tasks or expertise that isn’t required on a daily basis. It’s also a cost-effective way to hire for specialised roles that would be out of budget if they were offered full time.
Attracts a broader talent pool
Offering part-time hours can attract a wide range of candidates, including students, parents, semi-retirees, or professionals seeking a better work-life balance. This broader talent pool can bring fresh perspectives, varied experiences and greater diversity to your business, enhancing innovation and problem solving.
What are the cons of part-time employees?
While part-time hours offer flexibility, there are some drawbacks that businesses need to consider.
Reduced productivity
Part-time employees, working fewer hours, may have less time to complete tasks, which can lead to lower overall productivity compared to full-time workers. This can be particularly problematic in roles that require continuous engagement or rapid task turnaround, where the reduced availability of part-time staff may slow things down.
Less consistency in working hours
The irregularity of part-time hours can create gaps in coverage, leading to challenges in scheduling and workload distribution. This inconsistency can disrupt workflows, impact customer service, and make it harder for managers to coordinate tasks efficiently. Employers with a mix of full-time and part-time workers often benefit from using absence management software for accurate scheduling and clear communication.
Increased team integration challenges
Part-time employees spend less time in the workplace, which can make it harder for them to fully integrate into the team. This limited engagement may affect their connection to company culture and teamwork dynamics, potentially leading to feelings of isolation or exclusion. Employers need to make extra efforts to include part-time staff in team activities and communication to support a cohesive workforce.
Lower investment in professional development
Businesses often invest less in training and development for part-time employees, which can limit their opportunities for growth and reduce their long-term engagement with the company. This can affect the skill levels of part-time staff and their ability to contribute fully to the business, potentially impacting overall performance.
Manage full-time and part-time employees easily with PeopleHR
Understanding what full-time hours are and what part-time hours are, and the difference between the two is essential for making informed staffing decisions. Full-time employees provide consistency, reliability, and higher productivity, but they come with higher fixed costs and less flexibility. In contrast, part-time staff offer greater flexibility, lower costs, and access to a broader talent pool but may present challenges in team integration and productivity. Balancing the pros and cons of each can help businesses create a workforce strategy that meets their needs while managing costs effectively.
HR software can simplify managing both full-time and part-time employees by streamlining scheduling, automating timesheets, and ensuring compliance with employment laws. It empowers businesses to adapt quickly to changing demands and make data-driven decisions to improve workforce management and optimise operational efficiency.
Get in touch to find out how PeopleHR can support employee management in your workplace. You might also like to book a free demo to see our specialised software in action for yourself.
