How Part-Time Roles Can Boost Your Business

In today’s competitive job market, businesses are adapting their roles to attract the best talent. With the increasing demand for a healthy work-life balance, employers who offer flexible work options are more likely to attract and retain the best employees. To stay ahead, businesses must adjust to these changes or risk falling behind. 

Part-time workers now make up about 25-30% of the UK workforce. Recently, there's also been a rise in senior-level employees working part-time, challenging traditional ideas about part-time roles. This shows a shift in what employees want and the growing need for a better work-life balance among experienced professionals. 

A common myth is that part-time workers have fewer legal rights than full-time employees. While this might have been the case in the past, it's no longer true. The Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations, introduced in 2000, protect part-time workers' rights. In general, part-time employees are entitled to the same rights as their full-time counterparts. The key difference is that things like statutory holidays and benefits are calculated on a pro-rata basis. 

Who Typically Works Part-Time? 

Part-time workers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances. Historically, a significant portion has been women with childcare responsibilities, balancing work with family life. However, they're also likely to be older employees who aren’t ready to retire but want to reduce their hours. In the UK, with the increasing costs of childcare for many families, there's been an increase in grandparents looking for part-time work so they can also help care for their grandchildren. Young people aged 16 to 24 frequently take on part-time work to support themselves financially while pursuing their education or gaining work experience 

Moreover, part-time work can be an excellent opportunity for businesses to access talent from different time zones around the world. This means companies can benefit from a range of skills without needing a full-time commitment. 

What are the benefits for businesses? 

Offering part-time roles that are traditionally full-time opens a wider talent pool. These workers are often highly experienced, qualified, and ambitious, attracted by the work-life balance that part-time positions provide. 

Instead of recruiting one person to cover a broad role, you could consider splitting the duties across two part-time positions, allowing for more specialised skills in certain areas of your business.  

Why are you recruiting? 

When recruiting, consider whether the role is replacing someone or if it's new due to company growth. Does the workload require a full-time employee, or could you benefit from having part-time employees with specialised expertise to help take your business to the next level? 

If it's an existing role, review the responsibilities of the previous employee. Could the role be adapted to meet current business demands? Perhaps some tasks could be given to other employees to help them grow, allowing you to reduce the role to a part-time position. 

Historically, part-time work has been seen negatively, with some viewing part-timers as less reliable or committed than full-time employees. But as the workforce evolves, so do its priorities. Businesses that recognise and meet the needs of today’s employees will find themselves tapping into a highly skilled, ambitious talent pool—people who value the balance that part-time work offers. 

Need help with managing your part-time Employees in terms of pay, holiday leave, etc.? Sign up for to the Dakota Blue Academy. Our online subscription platform offers a range of HR guides and templates to support you. Join us today to access valuable resources and simplify your HR tasks.