How Many Hours is Part Time? With Pros and Cons

Consider two co-workers starting their day. 

One arrives at 8:00 AM and works a full eight-hour day. The other arrives about 10:00 AM, works about five hours, and is gone by late afternoon. The first is a full-time worker; the second, part-time. 

The work schedule of this second worker leaves their afternoon free for family, hobbies, or school. Part-time work such as this is common as individuals and companies seek more flexibility. 

In this article, we’ll discuss all you need to know about “How many hours is part time?”.

What Does “Part-Time” Mean?

A part-time position generally means fewer hours a week than a person who works a full-time position. There isn't a direct legal definition of the difference. However, the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA), covering subjects like minimum wage and overtime pay, does not define part-time work. 

Instead, each employer has the authority to decide. So, “How many hours is part time?”. In practice, most companies generally consider full-time to be between 35 and 40 hours per week. 

If you work less than that, you are generally considered part-time. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts workers who "usually work less than 35 hours per week" as part-time.

If your workload is consistently less than that of the full-time staff, then you are a part-timer.

How Many Hours Is Considered Part Time?

So, for “How many hours is part time?”, you may see some companies making 30 hours the cutoff. There is also the option of 20 hours or less. The majority of real part-time work falls into this group. 

Think of students or stay-at-home parents who work a few days. Tutoring, weekend retail work, or gig work usually supplies work within this range. For how many hours is a part time job? You should know that part-time hours vary greatly between sectors. 

Retail, hospitality, and healthcare utilize part-timers, who may work weekends or nights but not a full five days. Professional industries also use part-time workers. 

How Many Hours per Week Is Part Time?

To be more specific, here is a breakdown of what hourly ranges fit into part time on a weekly arrangement:

1. 20 hours per week

It could be four 5-hour shifts or five 4-hour shifts per week. Many consider this part-time, roughly half of a normal 40-hour week. So, a respectable amount of regular work, reasonable pay, but still considered part-time.

2. 30 hours per week

Some companies use this, even though it is close to the upper end of what is considered part-time. This might involve working three 10-hour shifts (30 hours). It can also be five 6-hour shifts.

Legally, 30 hours may trigger full-time benefits rules. Working three days instead of five days a week would be considered part-time, especially if the hours remain below 35-40 hours.

3. 12 hours per week

Yes, this is definitely a part-time date. Someone working 12 hours per week typically does not have access to most full-time benefits. They are probably not being counted by many laws, like the health insurance requirement law (which starts at 30 hours).

Most part-time jobs are about 20-30 hours a week, so more than likely, each day is shorter than a normal daily shift. However, even just a full change could be considered part-time. Regarding how many hours a week is part time, know that it requires fewer than 40 hours.

How Many Hours Is Considered Part Time Daily?

Since full-time is generally a 5-day week, people sometimes wonder how many hours is considered part time daily. If a full day is 8 hours, then part-time generally means shorter days. For example, working 4 to 6 hours a day is very typical for part-time jobs. 

If you consistently work fewer than 8 hours daily, you might fall under the part-time radar. Typical part-time daily hours would be:

• 5-hour or 6-hour shift a day 

• 4 hours per day for 4 days (16 hours) 

• 5 hours per day for 4 days (20 hours) 

• 6 hours per day for 4 days (24 hours)

How Many Hours Is Part Time Job According to the Law?

According to the Department of Labor, an individual's hourly status should not affect their rights. That is, labeling someone part-time is not a loophole under the law. It only affects how you handle hours, pay, and benefits within your organization.

• FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act): The FLSA itself does not differentiate between a part-time or full-time job. It only matters about minimum wage, overtime, and record-keeping. 

• Overtime: Part-timers usually don't hit overtime, but it can happen. If one works extra long shifts, putting them over 40 hours, then the law requires overtime. 

• Affordable Care Act (ACA): The ACA employer mandate focuses on health insurance. A person who works 30 or more hours a week is a full-time employee for health insurance purposes. 

• Benefits and Leave: There is no federal law requiring businesses to offer health coverage. It is the same for retirement, or paid time off for part-time employees. However, some state and local laws may affect this.

It is important to be very specific when defining how many hours is part time. There should be clarity on what benefits are included, and how overtime is treated. 

This saves employers and employees alike from confusion or expensive mistakes. Misclassifying a full-time employee as part-time can cause issues with taxes, benefits, or labor laws.

What Are the Part-Time Work Benefits?

Most of the time, one of the biggest differences between part-time and full-time work is the benefits. These include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid holidays. However, most companies offer some perks to part-timers to attract quality people. These could be:

• Prorated Paid Time Off

• Flexible Scheduling Benefits

• Limited Health Plans

• Retirement Plans

Every employer sets their own rules for part-time benefits, except where the law otherwise specifies. 

Pros and Cons of a Part-Time Job

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There are pros and cons that come with working part-time as opposed to a full-time work arrangement:

Pros

Hiring part-time employees can bring numerous benefits to both employees and employers. Below are some of the advantages from both points of view:

For Employers 

• Lower Costs: Part-time workers are less expensive in terms of benefits and wages.

• Flexible Staffing: Part-timers enable you to respond to demand. This is done without interfering with anyone's full-time schedule.

• Trial and Talent: Hiring part-time is like a trial period. You observe performance prior to making an offer for a full-time position. 

• Specialized Skills: This helps to fill a skills gap without the expense of a full salary.

For Employees 

• Flexibility: Part-time can lead to a better work-life balance.

• Entry or Transition: A part-time job in your desired field can provide experience and lead to more opportunities.

• Less Stress: People can focus intensely for a few hours a day and then relax. This can lead to higher morale or productivity during working hours. 

Cons

Naturally, there are negatives to part-time work too. Both employers and employees must weigh the pros and cons.

For Employers

• Coverage Gaps: For jobs demanding around-the-clock coverage or long shifts, one part-timer may not be enough. 

• Turnover: The more turnover you have, the longer you have to recruit and train. That takes its biggest toll on smaller firms.

• Engagement: Part-timers also do not get as ingrained in company culture. Getting loyal or familiar with finer tasks may be more difficult. 

For Employees 

• Lower Pay: Fewer hours mean less pay.

• Few or No Benefits: Most part-time work lacks full benefits.

• Unpredictable Schedules: A lot of part-time work is unpredictable. Full-time jobs usually have more predictable schedules.

• Limited Growth: In some sectors, part-time might limit opportunities for growth. It can also affect career development.

To Sum It Up

It is important to be very specific when defining how many hours is part time. There should be clarity on the pros and cons of the part-time arrangement. This saves employers and employees alike from confusion or expensive mistakes. 

Misclassifying a full-time employee as part-time can cause issues with taxes, benefits, or labor laws. Proper paystub management with our Pay Stub Generator can help you avoid these issues. Visit us today!