What's missing?
There's so much the existing research doesn't tell us about working part-time. So many questions are still unanswered.
Together we can surface new insights and new solutions.
We're interested in:
1. Why do people work part-time?
2. Could access to part-time work be improved?
3. What's it really like when you work part-time?
5. What would you like to know?
1. Why do people work part-time?
There's almost no research about the reasons why people work part-time. Is it simply a case of needing to different things with the 24 hours you have in each day? Or are there different reasons why people work part-time?
Do you work part-time? What were the reasons for you starting to work part-time? Maybe you've always worked part-time, or does it cut your childcare costs?
Had you reached a point in your career where you felt it was time for something different or did you want to get a better balance between the time you spend at home and work?
Have you discussed your reasons for working part-time with your colleagues or boss?
Do you work with people who work part-time? What do you understand about their motivations for working part-time?
What we've heard so far:
"I went part-time when I returned from mat leave, we just couldn't afford for me to go back full-time because childcare is just so expensive."
"I work part-time and my husband has made career decisions that mean he can be at home more because we know the kids will be grown and gone so soon."
"I've got a long-term condition and I wouldn't feel confident committing to a full-time role."
"I worked with a woman who worked four days a week for years. She did this so she could spend one day a week with her mum - but I only found this out when her mum died."
"I went part-time when my wife started studying, and we've stuck with that arrangement. It's hard but I don't regret for one second the extra time it gives me with the kids."
2. Could access be improved?
Would you like to work part-time if you could? What's stopping you or making it difficult?
What was your experience of securing a part-time role? What could teams and employers do to make it easier for more people to access part-time roles?
What we've heard so far:
"I couldn't stay in my existing role, I had to look for a new role that was advertised as part-time and not many come up."
"I don't understand why any job can't be adjusted to fewer hours - shouldn't part-time be a default option?"
"I'm looking for a new job and there's still very little that explicitly states it is or can be part-time and I see so many full-time jobs that could easily be part-time."
"We've got a big recruitment challenge and I think making part-time options more readily available could help solve this but I can't get our leadership on board."
"I would love to work part-time but I just can't afford it."
'I'd love to work part-time but I see how hard it is for the people in my team who do already and I can't justify the drop in salary if it's still going to be that hard."
3. What's it like when you work part-time?
What's it like? What surprised you? What do you wish you'd known? Would you recommend it?
What we've heard so far:
"I was lucky, my employer was really supportive but in hindsight going from full-time to part-time is like starting a new job, you have to work in a completely different way."
"I'm leading a big project but the updates to leadership are on the day I don't work, so my boss always presents the report - I feel pretty invisible."
"I went part-time but my objectives didn't change so I feel like I'm only just managing to make it work."
"I would recommend it. But it's taken me years to work out how to do it well. We need to get better at acknowledging the different skills you need to develop."
"We have core hours in our business. It's a godsend, it means everyone's on a level playing-field. I'd love to see more businesses using them.
4. Is it forever?
Is working part-time a destination you've reached or do you see it as part of the ongoing evolution of your career and how and when you work?
If you weren't able to work part-time what would the alternative be?
What we've heard so far:
"I've never thought about it, what an interesting question, I guess at some point I'll go back full-time."
"I've been working part-time for 10 years now and I can't see myself ever going back full-time."
"I'm definitely going back full-time once the kids are older, working part-time has been amazing whilst they're little but I'm looking forward to getting back."
"I guess if I couldn't work part-time I'd have to find a different job. I do feel really lucky to be able to work part-time."