Benefits for Part Time Employees
Many different companies and industries employ large part-time workforces. These employees work fewer hours each week than their full-time counterparts and may not perform all of the same duties. But for part-time employees, as important as their job descriptions are the employee benefits they do, or do not, receive as compensation in addition to an hourly wage.
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Definition
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The federal government does not differentiate between full- and part-time employees. Each company has the right to set its own definition for part-time employment, which can determine whether or not you receive benefits and, if so, what type. A 30-hour work week is usually the cut-off for part-time employment, with most full-time employees working 40 or more hours each week. Benefit policies may require part-time employees to work at least 20 hours per week, on average, to qualify for benefits.
Types
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Part-time employees can receive several different types of benefits. While many companies reserve all benefits for full-time workers, some of the most common benefits for part-time employees include a 401k retirement savings plan and basic health insurance. Part-time employees are less likely to receive health insurance coverage that includes dental and vision coverage, though some companies offer these benefits as well. Other less-common benefits for part-time workers include maternity leave, paid sick days and paid vacation.
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Legal Issues
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The federal government requires employers to offer some benefits to all employees, regardless of their status or regular hours. One of these benefits is social security benefits, which employers deduct from employees' paychecks and match with a payment to the government. Employers must also pay unemployment insurance taxes and purchase workers compensation insurance for part-time employees, just as they do with full-time employees.
Costs
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Other than the requires taxes and insurance, which are the same for all workers, businesses spend a great deal of additional money offering benefits to full-time employees. Cost is among the reasons that some companies choose to offer reduced benefits to part-time workers, or not to offer any benefits that aren't required by law. The rising cost of health insurance may cause companies to offer a lower level of coverage to part-time employees, or to require a higher employee contribution.
Considerations
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As a part-time employee it's important to consider other advantages of your employment status beyond the lack or presence of employee benefits. Part-time workers receive training and valuable experience, which may make it easier to find a full-time position that offers a full range of benefits in the future. Part-time employees also have more flexible work schedules that get away from the traditional full-time nine-to-five routine.
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