Part Time Work Questions

[Anonymous]

PP - Curious what kind of work you do? And which gov't agency if you don't mind sharing?

[Anonymous]

To the 15:03 PP asking about how to find part-time child care... My advice is to look into in-home/family daycares. I work 3 days per week, and found that while daycare centers don't offer much flexibility, the in-home daycares I looked into almost all were willing to accommodate my schedule AND offer a reduced rate for the 3 days I use. My son is now in an in-home daycare that is great, and the bonus is that b/c I only pay for 3 days per week of care, it's really affordable on my 60% salary.

[Anonymous]

I'm not the 15:40 poster but I also work 4 days/week for the Feds. Like 15:40 I simply told them that I wished to return 4 days/week after my child was born. They agreed. I know a number of women who work PT for the Feds including two at my agency. These arrangements are not just easier at some agencies vs. others, it depends on your supervisor. Generally the grade level for a supervisory position is tied to the number of full-time employees (FTEs) or FTE equivalents you supervise. For some supervisors, letting somebody drop below FT will cause them to have to answer to HR, get a desk audit, even be downgraded. If you've been there for a while, make a proposal. Also consider requesting a telework arrangement for some of your days. I've found that skill set is more important than face time at my agency. At my agency, literally everybody teleworks to some degree.

[Anonymous]

I'm an independent contractor working part-time for a federal government agency. Right now I work 3.5-4 hours a day, 5 days a week - usually about 18 hours a week. It works out perfectly for me because I work while my daughter is at preschool - this way I don't have to pay for child care.

I do writing/editing and website management. Initially they told me I could do it from home but that didn't pan out. It's not a big deal, as the office is convenient to the preschool.

I think for the government you're more likely to find part-time work as an "independent contractor" than as a government employee. I don't receive any benefits, just an hourly rate, but it's not a problem because I get benefits like health insurance through my husband and as an independent contractor, I can set my own hours and take vacation whenever I wish.

[Anonymous]

15:40 here. Don't want to list my agency, but wanted to let you know that in the federal gov't, 32 hours is considered full time. So that works for the supervisors count, plus my full-time benefits (although I only make 80% salary, which is fair). I do not know anyone else in my building with a similar arrangement, but she might exist - I hope she does!

I am a scientist by training, but have switched to a policy position due to reorgs. My job is not my absolute dream career, but for now it is flexible and a good fit for me and my family. Working 32 hrs has not affected promotions in the least.

I find teleworking difficult with older children because they really want mommy to get them dressed, make lunch, read a book, etc instead of the nanny.

[Anonymous]

PP 15:40-I didn't realize 32 hrs/week was considered FT for the supervisor's count-that's great to know. So Federal ladies, if you want 80% time, apparently it does no harm to ask.

[Anonymous]

12:05 Poster: How did you find this kind of gov't contractor position? Through a recruiter? Website? Any hints would be great. Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

15:40 again - Federal ladies: before you speak to your supervisors, look at all the rules and regulations at OPM. They have a ton of stuff about family work arrangements, part time, flex time, etc. That is where it states that 32+ hours is full time. Also look at any family policies at your agency on their website or with the HR department. There's a lot of stuff out there that nobody knows or talks about.

I couldn't have done it without a wonderful mentor guiding me through it. We should all be so lucky to have someone lead the way!

[Anonymous]

12:05 here - I stumbled into this totally by luck. I was a SAHM at the time and my husband met someone who was looking for a bit of extra help (part-time) and was in charge of hiring for his office. I started talking to him about a year before I actually began working - they had to designate the funds and so on. I think we had our first conversation about it in September '06 and I started working limited hours (twice a week, 8-10 hours total) over the summer of '07. I started my 5-day 18-20 hours a week, schedule only this past August.

[Anonymous]

I also work 32 hours for a federal government agency, and believe I am now considered part-time (according to the classification on my earnings/leave statement). Are earlier posters referring to 32 hour work weeks as full-time for the purposes of considering FTE/staffing counts? At 32 hours, my benefits are pro-rated, which only makes sense. For example, my annual and sick leave accruals are at 80%, and we now pay a higher portion of our health care premium. I assume this is the norm for anyone working fewer than 40 hours for fed. govt: benefits/leave pro-rated based on hours worked.

[Anonymous]

For feds - from OPM

How to make a full-time job part-time
https://www.opm.gov/employment_and_benefits/worklife/officialdocuments/handbooksguides/pt_employ_jobsharing/pt04.asp#ftpt

Definition of "part time"
https://www.opm.gov/employment_and_benefits/worklife/officialdocuments/handbooksguides/pt_employ_jobsharing/pt05.asp

This defines part time as anything less than 32 hours per week. So really, if you are working 32 hours, you are FULL TIME!! Yes, your annual leave and sick leave will be pro-rated, but you should be receiving full time benefits and for purposes of workforce planning and if there is every a RIF, you are not in the part-time pool.

[Anonymous]

How about back to non-federal jobs? Those of you who are not in the gov't... how did you find your part time (20-30hours) job?
And re gov't... it's pretty hard to get in from the outside, rigth? I"m guessing it would be even harder to come in as part timer?
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Sorry to all for this digression from the OP's post...To 11: 16 am poster, thank you for sending the OPM links. My reading of the "OPM Part-time Employment Defined" language is different than yours - the OPM language does not state "less than 32 hours is part-time" but rather seems to imply a 32 hour work week would be part-time:

A part-time permanent employee has a career or career-conditional appointment (or a permanent appointment in the excepted service), works between 16 and 32 hours each week (or between 32 and 64 hours a pay period) on a prearranged schedule, and is eligible for fringe benefits. Part-time permanent employees are eligible, on a prorated basis, for the same benefits as full-time employees: leave, retirement, and health and life insurance coverage.

I'll check with my HR office since whether I'm FT or PT at 32 hours affects my benefits...