Public Servant Lifestyle

More than half the UK's 3.8 million part-time workers are in jobs that they feel fail to capitalise on their qualifications, skills and previous management experience, says EOC report.

Working part-time in low-paid jobs can 'scar' their income, earnings potential and promotion prospects for life while the economy loses essential skills, according to a new report illustrating the 'penalties' of working part-time, released by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

Part-time is no crime – so why the penalty? argues that the way to tackle the stigma and disadvantage faced by those who work part-time is by opening up flexible working practices at all levels of the economy and by opening the right to request flexible working to parents of older children and carers.

The EOC finds that 78% of Britain's part-time workers are women – many of whom work in low-level jobs in administration and service-based organisations. A key trigger for working part-time, the report argues, is the need to balance work and caring responsibilities. Because of the lack of flexibility in their chose careers many women have to take up alternative work which is often low paid and part-time.

The skills drain from full-time work to low-paid part-time work has a major impact upon household income, career chances and British productivity, the report shows.

Part-time is no crime - so why the penalty? shows that part-time workers are 40% less likely to receive in-work training, than their full-time counterparts. It also reports that women-part time workers earn an average 40% less, per hour, than male full-time workers.

Interim Report

The interim report of the EOC's investigation into flexible and part-time working also reveals that the odds of a woman being in part-time work increase by almost eight times if she has a second child aged 0-4 – and argues that the lack of availability of affordable, good quality childcare is a key trigger for entry into part-time work.

Julie Mellor, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said:"Britain is facing a crisis if it does not address the need for flexible hours at work. Women are hardest hit by the part-time 'penalty', which channels them into low-paid jobs with poor prospects, often because they take on more of the caring role at home.

"Many people choose to work part-time, but they don't choose low pay. What we need is to enable parents of older children and carers to ask their employer to work flexibly, and encourage employers to offer better paid jobs on a more flexible basis. Only that way can we keep essential skills in the economy whilst allowing people to do the vital role of caring for others."

Part-time is no crime – so why the penalty? illustrates the reality for part-time workers in Britain:

More information available in Advice, Home Working, Work Life Balance, Careers, Career Development, Job Centre, Family & Personal