How to employ someone on a part-time basis

A new "how to" guide provides practical guidance for employers on the factors to consider when employing part-time workers. 

Taking on an employee on a part-time basis, or agreeing to change an existing employee's hours, can present some practical questions for an employer on issues such as how to calculate entitlement to annual leave, how to pro rate employee benefits and how to deal with overtime. Part-time workers have the right not to be treated less favourably than comparable full-time workers because of their part-time status. Employers must ensure that part-time workers' terms and conditions are not less favourable than those of full-time workers, unless they can justify the less favourable treatment. 

The guide takes employers through various aspects of the employment relationship with practical guidance on complying with the relevant legislation and ensuring that part-time workers are treated fairly. 

• How to employ someone on a part-time basis Practical guidance for employers on the employment rights of part-time workers. 

Also

Line manager briefing on part-time workers This line manager briefing explains the law applicable to part-time workers and provides practical guidance on how to manage them. 

FAQs on part-time workers include:

• If a part-time or shift-working employee is not scheduled to work on a bank holiday, is he or she entitled to an additional day's holiday?
• If an employer provides for pro rata bank holiday entitlement for part-time employees, how should it calculate this?
• Where a full-time position is advertised, is the employer required to consider an applicant who informs it at interview that she would like to work part time?