HR Management & Compliance

Survey Says: Dramatic Increase in Benefits for Part-Timers

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Just My E-pinion

Our recent survey Benefits for Part-Time Employees indicates a dramatic increase in the number of organizations that offer benefits to part-time employees. In addition, 28 percent of respondents report an increase in the number of part-time employees. Looks like part-time work is coming of age.

Nearly all (98%) employers responding to the survey report that their organizations offer part-time work, and over one-third of these companies report that more than 10% of their workforce are part-time employees.

About 85% of respondents provide prorated holidays and vacation to their part-time workforce. This represents a significant increase over the approximately 35% of employers who provided these benefits to part-time workers in BLR’s 2008 Survey of Employee Benefits. Similar increases occurred in the provision of paid sick leave, health insurance and life insurance to part-time employees when compared with the previous survey, conducted in late 2007.

The current survey, which garnered 1,100 responses, was conducted by the HR Daily Advisor in October and November of 2010. Here are the results:

Organization employs part-time employees:

 

Number

Percent

Yes

1,042

95%

No

26

2%

Part-time work allowed, but none currently

34

3%

Organization allows job sharing:

 

Number

Percent

Yes

149

14%

No

794

72%

Job sharing allowed, but none currently

155

14%

Approximate percentage of workforce employed part-time:

 

Number

Percent

None

51

5%

Less than 5%

437

41%

5% to 10%

199

19%

11% to 20%

158

15%

More than 20%

219

21%

Percentage of part-time workers has changed over the past two years due to economic conditions:

 

Number

Percent

Yes, the number of part-time workers has increased as an alternative to layoffs

98

9%

Yes, the number of part-time workers has increased for other reasons

198

19%

No, the number of part-time workers has stayed approximately the same

672

64%

No, the number of part-time workers has decreased

88

8%


See what everyone’s talking about! Check out BLR’s remarkable everything-you-need-for-HR website, HR.BLR.com, at no cost or risk, and get a complimentary special report! Get more info.


Minimum hours worked per week to be eligible for prorated benefits:

 

Number

Percent

Not applicable—benefits not offered

185

18%

Less than 10 hours

35

3%

At least 10 but less than 20 hours

42

4%

20 hours

242

24%

More than 20 hours but less than 25 hours

67

7%

At least 25 hours but less than 30 hours

89

9%

30 hours or more

356

35%

 

Categories of prorated benefits provided to eligible part-time employees:

 

Number

Percent

Holidays

668

84%

Vacation

679

85%

Paid sick leave

482

60%

Health Insurance

415

52%

Life Insurance

310

39%

Other*

167

21%

*Most frequently mentioned other categories:
Paid Time Off, Dental

Eligibility for Supplemental Benefits Plans

401(k) Plan

 

Number

Percent

Part-time employees eligible

564

59%

Plan offered only to full-time employees

224

24%

Not offered to any employees

160

17%

Retirement Plan

 

Number

Percent

Part-time employees eligible

253

30%

Plan offered only to full-time employees

149

17%

Not offered to any employees

455

53%

Bonus/Incentive Plan

 

Number

Percent

Part-time employees eligible

378

43%

Plan offered only to full-time employees

199

22%

Not offered to any employees

311

35%

Paid Family Leave Plan

 

Number

Percent

Part-time employees eligible

197

23%

Plan offered only to full-time employees

198

23%

Not offered to any employees

464

54%

Changes in benefits paid to part-timers in past two years:

 

Number

Percent

Yes, we have reduced benefits

56

6%

Yes, we have increased benefits

77

8%

No, the plan has not changed in the last two years

880

87%

Changes in benefits to part-timers anticipated in year to come:

 

Number

Percent

We plan to reduce benefits

44

4%

We plan to increase benefits

65

6%

No changes are anticipated

905

89%


Have you road-tested the biggest bargain in HR? Try HR.BLR.com at no cost or risk and receive a special report that’s yours to keep no matter what you decide. Get the details.


Demographics of Survey Participants

Title of Survey Respondent:

 

Number

Percent

Human Resources Director or Manager

688

69%

Human Resources Staff

170

17%

Consultant, Human Resources

31

3%

Other

108

11%

Industry:

 

Number

Percent

Manufacturing and Construction

136

14%

Transportation, Communications, and Utilities

42

4%

Services and Trade

307

31%

Government and Public Administration

77

8%

Other

435

44%

Approximate number of Employees:

 

Number

Percent

1-99

451

45%

100-499

350

35%

500-999

71

7%

1000 or more

125

13%

Location:

 

Number

Percent

Northeast US

242

24%

Southern US

238

24%

Midwestern US

276

28%

Mountain States

48

5%

Western US

193

19%

More Articles on HR Policies and Procedures

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *