What Is the Minimum Hours for Full Time Work
While there are certainly many part time jobs that pay well, many professionals seek full-time jobs in part due to the benefits these positions offer, such as retirement plans, paid time off and health insurance coverage. However, the definition of a full-time job is not standard because The United States Department of Labor allows employers to determine what they consider to be full-time work.
As a job seeker, it's important to understand what qualifies as full-time work, how many hours a full-time job requires and the benefits this type of position can offer.
What is considered full-time work?
According to the United States Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not define the number of hours an employee must work to be considered full-time. That means employers must make their own distinction between full-time and part-time work. Often, employers require employees to work full-time to be eligible for a benefits package.
While The FLSA does not define full-time hours, it does state that employees must make at least minimum wage for all hours worked up to 40 hour-per-week. Any additional hours worked during a seven-day period must be paid at one and a half times their current hourly wage.
What are the advantages of full-time work?
The advantages of full-time work vary by employer, industry and company size. Here are some of the most common benefits employers offer full-time employees:
Paid time off
Also known as PTO, paid time off occurs when an employee receives their regular wages from their employer while away from the job. There are several types of PTO plans. For example, some employers separate sick days and vacation days while other employers allow a total number of days to be missed for any reason.
Some employers allow PTO to accrue if an employee doesn't use all of their allotted days, while other employers offer all employees the same amount of time off each year, regardless of use. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, new full-time hires have an average of eight to 10 days of PTO per year. After each increment of five years of service, employers typically add an average of three to five days per year.
Sick leave
Sick leave days occur when an employee is out of the office due to an illness or injury. Depending on the employer's benefits package, sick leave may be paid or unpaid. Some employers may require an employee to provide a doctor's note to excuse missed time as sick leave. Read more for examples on how to write a sick-day email.
Retirement plans
Employers offer a variety of retirement plans. Many large businesses offer employees the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan. When employees enroll in a plan, they can elect to have a certain percentage of their pay distributed into a retirement account. Employers may also match an employee's 401(k) contributions, up to a certain percentage, to increase an employee's savings and further encourage them to plan for retirement.
To discourage employees from cashing out their savings before they retire, many 401(k) plans charge participants a 10 percent penalty plus income tax if they withdraw money out of the account before age 59 1/2. In these types of plans, participants over 59 1/2 only have to pay taxes calculated based on their tax bracket at the time of withdrawal. The cap for contributions to this plan is usually $18,000 per year.
Small businesses may also offer employees 401(k) plans, but some others may opt for a self-employed pension individual retirement account (SEP IRA). This type of plan allows employers to contribute up to $56,000 a year per employee to a retirement account.
Employees will receive this money once they leave the company or retire, but the amount invested grows tax-free until withdrawal. Like a 401(k) plan, the federal government puts a 10 percent penalty on SEP IRA withdrawals before age 59 1/2, including an income tax on the amount withdrawn at any given time.
Health insurance
Health insurance is one of the top reasons many job seekers prefer full-time positions. Participating in an employer's health coverage can help offset individual and family health care expenses. In most cases, employers offer a variety of plans and deduct the monthly premium from a participating employee's pay.
Pension
A pension is a retirement plan that guarantees an employee a certain amount of income per year when they retire. Pension values vary based on the amount contributed and the number of years an employee worked for the company. Choosing a job that offers a retirement plan like this can help you earn financial security during retirement.
Maternity and paternity leave
Parental leave is another benefit employers may offer their full-time employees. These plans allow employees to take time off work following the birth of their child and may last anywhere from two weeks to six months or more. Parental leave policies vary depending on the employer. Some employers pay employees their full salary for the duration of their leave, some pay a portion of their salary and others offer only unpaid leave.
Childcare
To help offset the costs of childcare, some employers offer free or discounted childcare for their employees. Employers may offer onsite daycare or reimburse employees for their childcare expenses up to a certain amount per month.
Full-time employment under U.S. law
Although the definition for full-time hours varies by employer, two main federal laws ensure certain benefits if your work meets a set of criteria.
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees who work more than 40 hours per week and aren't salaried must be paid time-and-a-half for every hour worked over 40 hours. Some employers consider employees that work at least 35 hours per week to be full-time workers and offer overtime pay for every hour worked past 35. However, salaried workers aren't always entitled to more money for working more than 40 hours-per-week.
The Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for the following reasons:
- Inability to work due to a serious health condition
- Caring for an immediate family member with a serious health condition
- Birth and care of a newborn child
- Adopting or fostering a child
To qualify for unpaid leave, an employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours for the company over a 12-month period. This translates to an average of 24-hour workweeks. If an employee satisfies this condition, they can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave per year.
Read more: Guide: Leave of Absence Letter Request (With Examples)
Myths about full-time hours and employment
Due to the different ways that employers define full-time employment, there are a few common misconceptions. One of the most popular misunderstandings is that you qualify as a full-time employee if you work 30—35 hours a week. While working 30 hours per week may entitle you to benefits with one employer, you may need to work a minimum of 35 hours per week to earn benefits with another.
Another misconception is that if you work full-time hours, you are guaranteed access to benefits. However, employers are not required to offer benefits packages. While many companies choose to offer benefits to attract and retain talent, some employers may not offer benefits.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes a mandate for employers with more than 50 full-time employees, which means they may have to pay a fine if they don't offer minimum essential coverage. However, smaller companies are not subject to this mandate and may choose not to offer healthcare coverage. Additionally, seasonal workers and those who work 40 hours for only a limited amount of time each year may not be eligible for benefits.
Given the steady income and benefits often available to full-time employees, many individuals do often seek full-time employment opportunities. However, before you accept a job offer, it's important to understand the benefits your employer offers and your eligibility for them. By taking the time to learn about full-time employment and thoroughly researching a company, you can prepare to ask the right questions throughout the hiring process and find a position that meets your needs.
What Is the Minimum Hours for Full Time Work
Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-are-full-time-hours