Employing part-time workers
Introduction
For small businesses, employing part-time workers can be an efficient way to keep costs down in areas where you don't need full-time cover. It is also a way to build in flexibility so that you can respond to changes in demand and develop your business.
When it comes to contractual terms and conditions of employment, you must not treat part-time workers less favourably than comparable full-time workers unless you can objectively justify that treatment.
This guide will explain the different types of part-time work, the statutory rights of part-time workers and ways in which your business could benefit from employing part-time staff.
Subjects covered in this guide
- Introduction
- Pros and cons of employing part-time workers
- Approaches to part-time working
- Part-time workers' rights
- Introducing job-sharing
- Considering requests to change working hours
- Asking workers to change their working hours

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Actions
- Use our interactive tool to help you comply with the law when taking on staff
- Download flexible working and the work life balance guidance from the Acas website (PDF, 307K) - Opens in a new window
- Use our interactive tool to investigate what kind of flexible working will best suit your employees and you
- Use our interactive tool to get a checklist of things you need to do when you take on a new employee
- Use our interactive tool to find out how to manage new and expectant mothers in your workplace
- Use our interactive tool to find out how to manage paternity and adoption leave and pay
- View local and national events linked to this topic



