More Companies Seek to Increase Part-Time Employee Hours
A new study indicates that over half of German companies are looking to increase the working hours of their part-time employees. This potential shift comes as businesses strive to navigate ongoing challenges in securing and retaining skilled workers.
Flexibility Key to Attracting and Retaining Talent
The study, which surveyed 815 human resources managers, revealed that
56.5 percent of companies are actively considering expanding part-time hours within their workforce. Among these companies, 11.7 percent aim to transition all part-time workers to full-time roles, while 44.8 percent are focusing on enticing a portion of their part-time staff to increase their working hours.
Interestingly, the desire to expand part-time hours appears to correlate with the severity of recruitment challenges a company faces. The study found that seven out of ten companies experiencing significant recruiting difficulties are interested in extending the working hours of at least some part-time employees.
Flexible Schedules: A Potential Solution
Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of flexible working arrangements as a tool for attracting and retaining talent. Nearly three out of four companies (73.2 percent) believe that more flexible working hours, such as evening shifts, could enable them to expand part-time employee hours.
The study also highlighted the interest in flexible work options among employees. For example, 30.5 percent of part-time workers who provide childcare said they would consider taking on full-time roles with more flexibility in their schedules. Similarly, 44.3 percent of shift workers who work part-time due to childcare responsibilities expressed willingness to transition to full-time positions if given flexible work arrangements.
Career Advancement Beyond Minimum Hours
The study’s findings also emphasize the importance of decoupling career progression and development opportunities from a rigid minimum working time. “It also helps to secure skilled workers ‘if companies do not link career and development prospects
to a specific minimum working time,'” the study notes. “Instead, companies and employees benefit from the opportunity to fill a management position part-time.”
Beyond flexible scheduling, companies are exploring other avenues to support their workforce. 37.2 percent of companies are considering providing support for childcare or elder care, while 44.5 percent are open to expanding possibilities for remote work or home office arrangements.
How is the trend of German companies increasing part-time employee hours linked to the current skills shortage?
## Interview: More Companies Seeking Full-Time Flexibility
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Dr. Sarah Schmidt, a leading labor market economist, to discuss a recent study showing a significant trend in German companies seeking to increase part-time employee hours. Dr. Schmidt, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Schmidt:** My pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** This study indicates over half of German companies are considering expanding part-time hours. What factors are driving this trend?
**Dr. Schmidt:** The study directly links this trend to the current challenges companies face in attracting and retaining skilled workers. Germany, like many other countries, is experiencing a skills shortage, and businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to fill open positions.
**Interviewer:** So, is this a shift away from the emphasis on flexible work arrangements that gained traction in recent years?
**Dr. Schmidt:** Not necessarily. The study shows that companies are looking for a balance – they understand the need for flexibility but also recognize the value of having a more stable, full-time workforce. The idea is to offer part-time employees the possibility of increasing their hours if they desire, providing them with greater income security and potentially more career advancement opportunities.
**Interviewer:** The study also reveals a correlation between the severity of recruitment challenges and the desire to expand part-time hours. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Schmidt:** Absolutely. Employers facing more acute staffing shortages are more likely to consider increasing part-time hours as a strategy to address those gaps. It allows them to retain existing talent and potentially entice some part-timers to take on larger roles.
**Interviewer:** This is certainly an interesting development in the German labor market. What are the potential implications for both employees and employers?
**Dr. Schmidt:** For employees, it offers greater control over their work schedules and earning potential while still enjoying some degree of flexibility. For employers, it provides a way to tap into a wider pool of talent and address staffing shortages in a more creative way. However, it will be important to monitor how this trend evolves and ensure it benefits both sides of the employment equation.
