Working Practices

Full-Time

This type of working practice means an employee will work a specified number of hours depending on their contract of employment. The standard hours for this are Monday to Friday 9-5 but this is very much dependant on the industry you are working in and full time work is usually determined by the total number of hours undertaken each week on a recurrent basis e.g. 35, 37, 39 hours would all be considered full time.

Advantages to Employer: the same person is doing the job all of the time and they will therefore be more likely to have a high level of skills and expertise in that job.

Advantages to Employee: ability to earn more benefits relating to job. Regular working pattern which can help with things such as child care. Forward planning for holidays etc.

Disadvantages to Employer: Lack of flexibility in working hours.

Disadvantages to Employee: Also lack of flexibility in terms of needing time of at short notice etc. Less time to spend with family and friend if you are working full time.

Part-Time

Employees will work an agreed number of hours per week; this could mean a reduced number of hours per day or a reduced number of days per week. This will again be dependent on the environment they are working in.

Advantages to Employer: increased flexibility, overheads can be reduced, shared workload amongst staff.

Advantages to Employee: increased work/life balance (see additional notes – Work/Life balance), less likely to become stressed, increased motivation/morale, less likely to lose focus and become bored.

Disadvantages to Employer: may be more costly to employ a number of part-time staff, they are entitled to same benefits to full-time employee on a pro-rate basis.

Disadvantages to Employee: due to demands of work they may end up working more than their actual hours, can be left out of meetings/decisions due to working