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HR Tip: Definition of full-time and part-time work

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These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications.


Q: What exactly is the definition of a part-time worker? Is it someone who works for less than 16 hours?

A: There is no longer a precise ‘number of hours’ definition. In law a full-time worker is one who ordinarily works the number of hours recognised in the organisation as being full time. A part-time worker is one who works less than that number of hours. For example let's say that I work 35 hours a week in your organisation. If pretty well everyone else does too, then I am a full-time worker. But if most people work 37 hours, I am a part-time worker.

And the lesson:

  • Keep up to date with employment law. The 16-hour definition went out years ago.
  • Try to ignore the terms ‘full’ and ‘part-time’. If you accept that people work various lengths of a working week but must not be treated differently, you will avoid unintentional discrimination and may see your way better to matching hours with work that has to be done.

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Annie Hayes

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