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% |
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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% |
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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% |