What determines whether an employee is full-time orpart-time? How many hours per week do you need to work to be considered full-time? In the United States, theFair Labor Standards Act(FLSA) doesn’t prescribe any legal guidelines that dictatewhether or not a worker is a full-time employee.
What is Full-Time Employment?
The determination of what constitutes full-time employment depends on the company's policy and practice of defining full-time employees with the exception ofdesignationsunder theAffordable Care Act (ACA).
According to theAmerican Time Use Survey, full-time workers put in 8.5 hours on average during a typical workday. So how many hours a week are you expected to work if you are a full-time employee?
Even though many people consider 35 or 40 hours a week full-time, the number of hours you are expected to work can vary depending on your employer. In some cases, it's less; for other employers, it can be more. The same holds true for part-time employment. Company policy determines how many hours per week is considered a part-time job.
Full-Time Workweek Schedules
40 Hour Workweeks
The standard for full-time employment was typically40 hours a weekin the past. The U.S. Department of Labor guidelines provide for overtime pay for nonexempt workers after working 40 hours. The week was typically divided into 8 hour workdays.
30—40+ Hour Workweeks
Many employers now consider employees as full-time when they work fewer hours (i.e., over 30 hours, 35 hours, or 37.5 hours).Under the ACA, employees who work 30 or more hours per week are entitled to health insurance; however, beyond that, companies may set whatever standard they like for full-time compensation and other benefits.
Other employers may set a higher number of work hours per workweek. For example, a 50-hour workweek could comprise five 10 hour days or an additional 6th workday.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Definition of Full-Time Employment
With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), thedefinition of a full-time employeehas been prescribed as a worker who spends an average of 30 or more hours per week on the job. Employers with 50 or more employees are required to offer health care to full-time employees under the ACA.
Organizations can choosea historical period of three to 12 monthsto assign a full-time status to workers if they averaged 30 or more hours during that period of time. Once designated as full-time, employers must keep workers in that status for at least six months.
Employment Law Regulating Hours Worked
Beyond ACA requirements, individual employers are free to set standards for their workforce. There are no federal guidelines that regulate the number of hours employees age 16 or over can work.
TheFair Labor Standards Actdictates that employers must paynon-exempt employeestime and one-half for any hours worked above 40 per week. Anexempt employee paid a salaryis not entitled toovertime payfor hours worked beyond 40 during a workweek.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Jobs
Some employers have adjusted the structure of jobs and allocated more positions requiring less than 30 hours per week toavoid the burden of paying benefits. Theshare of jobs that were part-timein 1968 was only 13.5% and has currently risen slightly to 14.3% of the workforce.
Historical data also indicates that employers offer fewer full-time and a higher number of part-time positionsduring recessionary periods. Since the last recession, there has been a continued shift towards a more intensive hiring of part-time employees rather than full-time workers.
Women are twice as likely as men to be classified as part-time. In 2016, about 25% of women worked part-time, versus about 12% of men, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics.
Check on Company Policy
Company policy determines the hours that employees are expected to work. The company may specify a set number of hours and, optionally, what yourwork schedulewill be. For example, your employee handbook may specify 9 am to 6 pm or state 45 hours per week.
Note
Official employer designations regarding full-time employment generally range from 35 to 45 hours, with 40 hours being by far the most common standard. Some companies consider 50 hours a week full-time for exempt employees.
In some cases, especially at a start-up, it can be whatever number of hours it takes to get the job done. The company may not set a standard schedule or number of hours that employees are expected to work.
Informal expectations for staff can differ markedly from the minimum hours required to be classified as full-time at an organization. If thetype of work schedulehasn't been clarified when you are interviewing for a job, carefully investigate what is expected to be considered a top-performing employee at the company if you have concerns about maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Ask about the hours you will be expected to work when you have a job offer in hand. Before you accept the offer, be sure that you can commit to the number of hours per week you will be expected to work. You’ll also want to know if yourpay changes for working overtime hours.
Benefits for Full-Time Employees
Full-time employees are often more likely to be provided with benefits, including a pension, health insurance, paid vacation, and sick time, which are not offered to part-time employees.
Note
When you are hired, you should be advised as to your employment status and eligibility for company-provided benefits based on whether you are full-time or part-time. If your status changes, you should also be informed by your manager or human resources department.
However, there are no requirements for employers to providebenefitsto employees other than those mandated by law. In some cases, employers also provide benefits to part-timers.
Key Takeaways
For the Most Part, Employers Determine What Constitutes Full-Time Hours: The ACA requires most employers to offer health care benefits to employees who work at least 30 hours per week.
Find Out Company Policy Before You Start Your Job: The organization should provide a work schedule and outline expectations, including hours and pay.
Some Companies Offer Benefits for Part-Time Positions: Although they are not required to do so, employers may offer benefits for certain part-time positions. Check company policy.
