Part-Time Jobs: Who’s Working?

Do bachelors need to work as hard as everyone else?

Most of us work during the day at what is known as a full time job. The words “full time” denote a job where one spends 40 hours or more per week working. For those 40 or more hours per week, we enjoy an hourly wage or a salary, and sometimes receive health benefits paid for or at least offered by our employer through a group insurance plan that helps to lower the cost of our insurance premiums. Full time jobs also offer the option of hourly or salaried pay. But what about those of us who do not want to work full-time…what options do we have to choose?

For most, the next logical choice would be a part-time job. But what exactly is a part-time job, and why would any one want part-time over full-time? Well, generally, a part-time job is one where the employee spends less than 40 hours on the job, usually 25-30. But it can also be one where a person spends only 10 or 15 hours on the job as well. Part time jobs sometimes do not count the number of hours an employee spends on the job, but may expect the employee to be present on the job on specific days, for example, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As you can see, the definition of “part-time” can be fairly wide and can fluctuate from employer to employer and job description to job description.

As well, a part-time job can be unpaid, as in volunteer work or seasonal work, such as that done during election time. Part time jobs generally pay less per hour than fulltime jobs, and do not offer health benefits. But for those who wish to work but cannot commit to 40 or more hours per week, a part time job can fill the need very nicely for the employer and the employer, who often is grateful for the extra help, and enjoys not having to pay for health benefits for that employee.

The largest group of people to hold part-time jobs is no doubt students. High school and college students are concentrating largely on their studies. So they want to work and make their own spending money, but cannot devote themselves 100% to working 40 hours per week. Part-time jobs perfectly fit the needs of these young students and provide willing employers with a steady supply of fresh and energetic young people to work at their establishments.