The part-time paradox

In a bid to give Britain’s part-time executives a voice, this research set out to understand what it’s like to work in a professional part-time job and how working part-time affects office status. We surveyed senior part-time workers and found that the term ‘part-time’ carries a strong stigma, even though the overwhelming majority of respondents hit their targets and are successful in their roles.

Key findings:

The context

Although UK workers are unconvinced that you can work in a senior role on a part-time basis, 650,000 people work in a quality part-time role, earning more than £40,000. Among the senior part-time workers who responded to our survey:

• 90% say they hit their targets and feel they are successful in their jobs
• Part-time work is no longer just for mothers: 30% cited the enjoyment of working fewer hours while earning a sufficient salary as their reason for working part-time, a higher percentage than those citing childcare.

The benefits to employers

When senior part-time employees were asked what benefits they felt their employers experienced through hiring them on part-time basis, the main responses were:

• “My employer knows I’m more likely to stay for the long term” (43% cited retention as a benefit)
•  “My employer gets more talent and experience for less cost” (42% cited a talented workforce at a lower cost as a benefit)
• “My employer gets happier, more refreshed employees” (29% cited welfare and employee morale as a benefit)

The stigma

Juxtaposing the clear successes of part-time working, our findings highlighted hesitation in being recognised as working part-time. Among the senior part-time workers who responded to our survey:

• 39% would not admit they work part-time, a figure that increases to 67% amongst those earning over £75,000.
• Of those who wouldn’t refer to themselves as part-time, 41% cited the negative stereotype surrounding part-time work.
• 14% let colleagues assume they work full time hours.

How Timewise plans to tackle the negative stereotype

Our research has inspired the Timewise Power Part-time Top 50 awards. The awards hope to bring part-time workers and flexible pioneers out of the shadows, telling really inspirational stories of what can be achieved on a part-time basis. By providing role models, these awards hope to trailblaze a path for future generations who want to work in the best jobs on a part-time basis.

Published in 2012