What is a part-time employee?
A part-time employee is someone who works fewer hours per week than a full-time employee—typically under 30 to 35 hours, though the exact threshold can vary by company or regulation. Unlike full-time workers, part-time employees often have more flexible or variable schedules and may not be eligible for the same benefits, depending on your company’s policies or state laws.
For small business owners, part-time employees are a practical solution for managing labor costs while maintaining coverage during peak hours. With Homebase, you can easily schedule part-time staff, track hours, and stay compliant with wage and hour laws—without the paperwork.
How is “part-time” defined?
There’s no single federal law that sets a fixed number of hours for part-time status. Instead, the definition can depend on:
- Your internal company policy
- State or local labor laws
- Federal benefit eligibility thresholds, such as those under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which considers employees who work 30+ hours per week as full-time for health coverage purposes
In most small business settings, part-time usually refers to employees working under 30 hours per week on average.
Key characteristics of part-time employees
- Work fewer hours per week than full-time staff
- May have varying schedules depending on demand
- Are typically paid hourly
- May not qualify for benefits unless your policy extends them
- Still covered by wage and labor laws (such as minimum wage, overtime, and anti-discrimination rules)
- Often fill shifts during high-demand times (evenings, weekends, holidays)
Part-time vs. full-time employees
It’s essential to classify employees correctly and apply company policies fairly across all employment types.
Legal considerations for part-time employees
Even though they work fewer hours, part-time employees are still protected under most major employment laws, including:
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Requires minimum wage and overtime for non-exempt employees
- Title VII and other anti-discrimination laws
- State-specific wage and hour laws, such as required breaks or predictive scheduling rules
- ACA and benefits thresholds, if your business is large enough to be subject to federal health coverage mandates
Some states or local governments also require paid sick leave or other benefits for part-time staff, depending on the hours worked.
Benefits eligibility for part-time workers
Whether a part-time employee receives benefits is usually up to the employer unless state or federal law mandates otherwise. Some employers choose to offer:
- Pro-rated paid time off
- Access to retirement plans (e.g., 401k)
- Health insurance if working 30+ hours/week
- Employee discounts or perks
If you offer benefits, be clear about eligibility in your employee handbook and apply it consistently.
Scheduling and managing part-time employees
Because part-time employees are often used to fill gaps in the schedule or cover peak business hours, employers should be strategic about:
- Aligning shifts with customer demand
- Minimizing overlap with full-time staff
- Complying with local laws about advanced scheduling or shift changes
- Tracking total hours to avoid unintentional full-time classification
Using a system like Homebase makes it easy to assign shifts, track total weekly hours, and avoid costly scheduling errors.
How Homebase helps manage part-time employees
Homebase is designed to help small businesses manage part-time and hourly workers more efficiently. With Homebase, you can:
- Build and publish weekly schedules in minutes
- Set hour limits or alerts to avoid exceeding part-time thresholds
- Track hours, breaks, and overtime automatically
- Monitor labor costs and staffing coverage in real time
- Onboard new hires with digital forms and document storage
Explore Homebase Hiring & Onboarding to simplify how you hire, schedule, and manage your part-time team—and stay compliant every step of the way.