Working part-time: added value or lost value?
Currently, about 4.5 million Dutch people work part-time, CBS figures show. And yet there are still many prejudices about people who work part-time, especially if they do not have children. It’s a shame that those prejudices still exist, because part-time work is the best solution for many people.
For a chunk of the part-time workers this is also not a conscious choice. Of the 4.5 million Dutch people who work part-time, 389 thousand indicate that they would like to work more hours. There can be various reasons why people work part-time and it has both advantages and disadvantages. Jopp will give you some insights about these two sides of the coin.
The Pros of working part-time
Although working 40 hours a week is still the benchmark for many, many studies show that people who work full-time are far from being more productive than those who work part-time. A number of companies, including Microsoft Japan and Unilever in New Zealand, have now even introduced a four-day work week. After an experiment, they noticed that their employees are more productive with shorter working weeks.
The fact that employees are more productive thanks to shorter working weeks is related to another advantage of part-time work: less stress and more work-life balance. And that balance is hugely important for our mental health. In 2018, 1.3 million Dutch people suffered from burnout symptoms, and with the advent of the pandemic, even more people have mental health issues. The choice to work less is often a good solution for these people. It gives you the space to take more time for yourself and do things that give you energy.
The Pros vs. the Cons
If you still get a raised eyebrow when the topic of part-time work comes up, remember that there is nothing wrong with that. It certainly does not mean that you are less ambitious. In fact, having to do your work in three or four days instead of five often makes you more efficient and smarter.
Of course, this does not mean that there are no disadvantages to working part time. It is important that you make good arrangements with your employer if you are going to work for him or her for a few days. You may be more productive in those few days, but that doesn’t mean you should get as much work as someone who works five days. This is especially a danger when you go from full-time to part-time work with the same employer. In this case, clearly state your limits and raise the alarm in time when you are assigned too much work.
Here come those prejudices again
Unfortunately, the prejudices we mentioned earlier are also a disadvantage that comes with part-time work. Depending on the situation, it can be prejudice from colleagues, friends and family or your employer. Even when you start applying for a new job you may still have to deal with these prejudices. In addition, your income generally goes down when you start working part-time and you have the chance that you will still be approached by colleagues on your day off, especially if you did work full-time before.
Fortunately, most disadvantages can be overcome by making good arrangements with your employer, your colleagues and yourself. For example, don’t open your mailbox on your day off and turn off your work phone. You can’t do much about the prejudices, except work hard and show that you are just as ambitious as your full-time working colleagues. Without working yourself to death of course!
Weighing up the pros and cons
Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is something you have to decide for yourself. For some it is a perfect solution, but for others it is not. If you would like to work as a freelancer or start your own business, it can be nice to work part time. This way you have a stable income to fall back on, but also time to find assignments or start your own business.
Eilish Janssen
