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| Issue: |
You are considering adding some part-time positions to your company’s work force as a means of retaining good employees who no longer want to or cannot work full time. Can this approach work? |
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Answer: |
Yes. A new report from 9to5, National Association of Working Women, documents the many benefits that businesses realize from offering quality part-time work options to their employees. In fact, the number one reason cited for offering these options is retention. Other arguments in favor of quality part-time work options include:
- Recruitment,
- Higher morale,
- Efficiency and productivity,
- Greater flexibility,
- Improved customer service,
- Employee well-being, and
- Enhanced reputation in the community.
"Over and over managers talked about the value of retaining talent and maintaining continuity of organizational know-how, along with saving the significant costs of replacing people and training new staff," said Ellen Bravo, lead trainer at 9to5.
"It's absolutely been worth the investment," says John Horky, a Principal at Kahler Slater design firm in Milwaukee. Horky notes that replacement costs can run three times a person's salary. "What's critical to success," said Bravo, "is seeing quality part-time options not as fringe policies but as a key part of how work is done."
Health, retirement policy changes. Respondents also identified health and retirement policy changes that would help promote quality part-time options. These include:
- Lowering the cost of health insurance—and for some insurers, changing the rules—to make it easier to offer to part-timers;
- Changes in Social Security to allow older workers to keep more supplemental income through earnings; and
- Changes in pension plans to allow workers to reduce schedules in later years without harming their pensions.
Source: 9to5, National Association of Working Women; http://www.9to5.org. |
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