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Part-time employment can be valuable for the employer by allowing workforce expansion without the commitments associated with full-time employment. For example, some employers provide fewer or no benefits to part-time employees.
Scope
For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines part-time employment as working less than 35 hours a week.
Regulatory citations
- None
Key definitions
- None
Summary of requirements
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not define full-time employment or part-time employment. This is generally an issue to be determined by the employer. Whether an employee is considered full-time or part-time does not change the application of the FLSA.
The BLS reported the following reasons why persons worked part-time, that is, one to 34 hours per week.
Economic reasons
- Slack work or business conditions
- Could only find part-time work
- Seasonal work
- Job started or ended during week
Non-economic reasons
- Child care problems
- Other family or personal obligations
- Health or medical limitations
- In school or training
- Retired or Social Security limit on earnings
- Vacation or personal day
- Holiday, legal or religious
- Weather-related curtailment