As the gig economy increasingly grows, the option of choosing part-time work has become more of a consideration than ever before.

According to a recent survey by RecruitiFi, a leading expert referral system (ERS) for the recruiting community found that individuals currently working full-time are increasingly likely to seek part-time work due to the flexibility associated with this career change.

“Now, more than ever before, people are voluntarily choosing to work part-time in order to receive a better work-life balance and other perks that come with a flexible work schedule,” said Brin McCagg, CEO and Co-founder of RecruitiFi. “By taking a deep dive into the key drivers behind these career decisions, the survey findings illustrate that organizations must evolve to meet the demands of both full-time and part-time workers.”

Given a choice between Part-Time vs Full-Time Work

According to the survey, 37 percent of the current full-time respondents cited that they are now more likely to consider part-time work than in the past.

When part-time workers were asked why they worked part-time, 43 percent said they took the part-time position voluntarily (compared to 31 percent who said they work part-time because it’s the only option available to them).

Of the full-time employees surveyed, over half of them (54 percent) cited they would voluntarily work part-time if given an opportunity; leaving their current full-time positions or scaling back on hours.

Although more employees are starting to voluntarily choose part-time work over full-time work, these workers do acknowledge the choice is not without possible negative career implications.

Majority of career-minded professionals do feel the negative career implications associated with moving from full-time to part-time work, primarily being the loss of money (84 percent), increased risk of being ‘let go’ (39 percent), loss of status/credibility/prestige (26 percent) and getting ‘mommy and daddy’ tracked (10 percent).

See: Workplace Flexibility? Excellent business choice

The Value and Unwritten Cost of Office Perks

When asked employees what they value most about their careers, 45 percent of respondents cited work-life balance as their number one priority, with compensation (34 percent) as a close second.

Among other things workers value most in their careers are professional development opportunities (12 percent), job perks (3 percent), mentorship (3 percent) and gaining status/prestige (3 percent).

While asking for additional benefits could be a point of contention for some workers, 78 percent of those surveyed would actually feel comfortable asking for more work-life flexibility if they needed it.

However, those who would not feel comfortable asking cited that it would negatively affect their career advancement prospects (45 percent), compensation opportunities (33 percent), or that by asking they would face judgment by their peers (24 percent).

Justin Luciani, COO and Co-founder of RecruitiFi said, “It has become clear to hiring managers and recruiting firms that now more than ever before, there is a growing demand for part-time work. It is up to these professionals to understand this shift and adapt to the changing needs of this economy of workers.”

The desire to shift from full-time to part-time may very well send serious reverberations throughout the business world. To adapt, businesses have to consider what they will do regarding compensation, benefits, and hiring more staff to deal with the diminished man-hours.

If more companies begin to embrace part-time workers, they also may attract talented workers who were marginalized by the propensity of the business world favouring full-time opportunities.

These groups include new mothers who do not wish commit to working full-time or older/retired employees who do not want to work long hours, but still have a lifetime of experience to offer.

Businesses may find it harder to manage part-time employees, especially if they are working remotely, so communication needs to be stressed in order to remain as productive as possible. Additionally, part-time workers may need more time to become acclimated to a company’s culture or processes, so patience in training should always be prioritized.

In conclusion

With more of the workforce desiring a better work-life balance, businesses have a real decision to make. Allowing their employees to make these changes may boost their employer branding and save on overheads.

This switch will obviously not come without growing pains, so organizations that choose to implement any sort of change will need to demonstrate patience. Structural changes like this may seem daunting, but with enough guidance and leadership, businesses can come out stronger and more agile than ever before.

News source: recruitifi.com

Also read: Has the Tide Turned Against Flexible Work?

Image credit: cebglobal.com