February 23, 2005—More than half the UK’s part-time workers are in jobs that they feel fail to capitalize on their qualifications, skills, and previous management experience, according to a new 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, recently released by the Equal Opportunities Commission.
“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 care-givers. According to EOC, employers who do offer flexible working say that they benefit, with increased productivity.
The study reports that 78 percent of Britain’s part-time workers are women, many of whom work in low-level jobs in administration and service industries. 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 chosen careers many women have to take up alternative work, which is often low paid and part time.
The report shows that part-time workers are 40 percent less likely to receive in-work training than full-time counterparts. It also reports that women part-time workers earn an average 40 percent less per hour than male full-time workers.
