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Antiwork

Part-Time Work is “Flexible” Mostly for the Employer

One of the biggest misconceptions that I've experienced is that part-time work is good for people who need flexible working arrangements. But employers, who need to make money to stay afloat, are the ones putting up the part-time job ads in the first place. They want someone who will be 100% loyal to them, and be available to come in whenever they need more help. 20 hours one week, 3 hours the next. Having a disability or other jobs or childcare (reasons why people pursue part-time work) is actually a huge no-no. And they don't have to pay any benefits to these employees. Employers that seek out part-time employees, especially with variable hours, have 0 incentive to invest in these employees long-term and usually “mill” though them. I'm never doing part-time work or working for a “we're both struggling” or “we're going to change things later” employer again. Maybe I…


One of the biggest misconceptions that I've experienced is that part-time work is good for people who need flexible working arrangements. But employers, who need to make money to stay afloat, are the ones putting up the part-time job ads in the first place. They want someone who will be 100% loyal to them, and be available to come in whenever they need more help. 20 hours one week, 3 hours the next. Having a disability or other jobs or childcare (reasons why people pursue part-time work) is actually a huge no-no. And they don't have to pay any benefits to these employees. Employers that seek out part-time employees, especially with variable hours, have 0 incentive to invest in these employees long-term and usually “mill” though them.

I'm never doing part-time work or working for a “we're both struggling” or “we're going to change things later” employer again. Maybe I would consider part-time after being with a company full-time for years and needing it. But most places hiring part-time just want someone at their beck and call. More broadly I think if a business owner cannot give employees fair wages, hours, and working conditions, then they don't deserve to be an employer.

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