Part-Time Jobs

You know what really sucks in the job market these days? Part-time jobs! While I see the need for parttime work for some folks like students, retirees and others looking to supplement their incomes, I don't agree with the current move among companies, particularly bigger retail companies, to hire only part-time staff.

Companies like big grocery store chains who want us to believe they are great corporate entities, who do the right thing for their communities and society, are hiring part time staff to replace full time workers on a regular basis. These companies have almost no full time staff other than management type positions. The rest, the folks in the trenches, cashiers, inventory personnel are being hired as part-time staff so the company, that corporate superstar, doesn't have to pay benefits like sick leave or medical/drug plans.

It's a beautiful plan, two staff for the price of one, keep their hours low, and avoid paying benefits. These are typically not high paying jobs, and granted, they are suitable for some folks, but there are many people who need a full time job, 40 hours a week, and preferably in one place. They are being forced to work two or sometimes even three jobs to make ends meet, and get enough hours for a week's pay. I don't agree with this at all. Companies, large department stores, large grocery stores, many of whom are important entities in the communities where they are located, are not being corporately responsible when they hire mostly part-time workers. They are being fiscally responsible to their shareholder which is arguably what they need to be, but I believe these companies should have to demonstrate some social responsibility as well. The ratio of part-time to permanent full-time workers should be at least 50-50.

When I was starting out in the work world, I worked for a retail store who had more full time staff than part time staff. The parttimers were used to supplement the workforce, allow some of the full time staff to get a night off, or perhaps a two day weekend occasionally. Now, those types of jobs are almost non-existant, and the store I worked for would have to do some searching to find a full timer on the sales floor.

It doesn't look like it will be changing anytime soon either, as more and more retailers turn to part time staffing models, citing all kinds of reasons, but meaning the bottom line is all that really matters.

Some folks like part-time work, and to be fair, I am not suggesting that it should go away completely, but there should be options, and there should be some full time jobs for qualified people who want them. Part timers exhibit much less loyalty to their brand, or store, and often work in more than one retail location on a daily basis. That means they are ready to jumb ship as soon as full-time employment comes along, often leaving the company on short notice. After all, they only put in what they can expect to get back, and if your family comes first, and for most it does, part-time work is not enough.

Is it time for governments to step in and legislate some requirements for these places, especially the larger square footage stores, like the big box stores, and the large mega grocery stores who are turning huge profits for their owners?

The free enterprise entrepreneur in me says no, but the socially responsible person in side of me says yes....what about you?