DISCUSSION OF A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE: FULL-TIME RIGHTS FOR PART-TIME WORKERS: PARITY IN WAGES, BENEFITS, AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Nancy Segal
DOI: 10.2190/XDXJ-T7N3-R3PC-8DEU
Abstract
This article explores the need for federal policy to eliminate the hidden penalties associated with part-time work. The first part provides demographic information on the part-time workforce, which includes substantial numbers of women, low-wage workers, recent immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The second section focuses on the economic penalties associated with part-time work, including unfair wages, lack of employer-provided health, leave, and pension benefits, and limited opportunities for training and advancement. The next part proposes a framework for eliminating the penalties historically associated with part-time work: parity for part-time workers. The last section details how such parity would benefit the constituencies making up the part-time workforce, as well as help employers improve their bottom line.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.