18 Mar What Is a Full-Time Job? And How Many Hours a Week Is That?
How many hours is a full-time job?
The term full-time job refers to someone engaged in a 40-hour-per-week position. Full-time employees have no typical work week. But, many full-time jobs are classified as part-time by employees who work less than 40 hours per week. The time and day an employee works should be as consistent as possible. That leaves two main questions for employees when comparing their full-time job to part-time work. First, how long should they work to be considered full-time? And second, how many hours per week should a full-time employee work? Since your employer controls the number of hours you work, it’s up to you to determine how many hours you need to be considered a full-time employee.
Know more about the different types of work weeks.
WHAT IS A PART-TIME JOB?
There’s no standard definition of a part-time job in the United States. The US Department of Labor defines “part-time work” as any temporary position with an employer who pays you less than 40 hours per week for 40 or more weeks in a year. While those definitions encompass a wide variety of jobs, they generally mean that a worker isn’t paid enough to live on, isn’t given benefits, and is usually limited to working part-time in a specific setting or for a limited number of days. When working part-time, you may or may not be on the books with the government, so your payment may be less than the national or local average for a full-time employee.
HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK FORMS FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT?
According to the US Department of Labor (DOL), the following cases were deemed full-time employees by the government agency: As of July 2016, full-time employees work 40 hours per week, including one or more periods during which they are allowed to stop and take a break without losing the amount of time they worked during those periods. DOL also stated that it isn’t considered full-time if an employee works fewer than 40 hours per week. Because the DOL’s definition is so vague, employers often hire employees with lower incomes than their part-time counterparts to avoid paying out benefits, overtime pay, and other benefits afforded to full-time employees. Are you a full-time employee or a part-time employee?
WHAT IS A FULL-TIME WORKER?
Even if an employee does not work full-time, they can still be considered full-time work based on their work hours. But, some smallest requirements must be met. For example, the FLSA requires that full-time workers work at least 30 hours per week and no more than 44 hours per week. They must also have worked for their employer for a least 5 years or for a total of 6 months if they are 20 years or less. This is what the Department of Labor and the FLSA requires about a full-time employee. If you don’t meet these requirements, you are not considered a full-time worker in the United States: Does your employer pay you at least $455 a week? Do you have your benefits, such as health insurance and vacation time?
40 HOURS PER WEEK: THE STANDARD WORKING WEEK
The standard working week is 40 hours, which means that if you work a 40-hour week, you’re likely to earn a full-time wage. Overtime is another concept worth knowing. , this is the time you work outside of your regular work schedule, and it is usually paid at a higher rate. This can happen if your employer is short-staffed, if you’re granted approval to work longer hours, or if you choose to put in extra hours to finish a project or be more productive. The average American works 44 hours a week, which is above the standard full-time hours and is the highest since 2003. That said, the average working hours per week fall short of the full-time standard in the UK, where most workers put in fewer than 39 hours a week.
Also Read: Our guide on productivity.
20 HOURS PER WEEK: HOW MANY HOURS WILL YOU WORK?
Most full-time workers work 40 hours weekly, but your exact number of hours may vary. In some industries, such as high-tech or finance, workers often put in more hours than the average amount. Even within the same company, full-time employees don’t work the same amount of hours each week. For example, one employee may be assigned 20 hours of work per week, while another may be given 30 hours. Your specific job determines the number of hours you work each week, your department, and your employer. If you’re hired for a full-time position, it means that you’re expected to perform a standard 40 hours per week. But, some employers allow full-time employees to work fewer hours if approved.
16 HOURS PER WEEK: THE REALITY OF WORKING 9 am TO 5 pm, 5 DAYS A WEEK
Most people imagine the typical workweek to be 9 am to 5 pm, five days a week. But the average number of hours worked per week for full-time employees is 39.8, according to a 2018 Project: Time Off survey. And the average number of hours worked per week for part-time employees is 29.8. This means that the average person puts in approximately 39 hours during the week and an extra hour on the weekend. The numbers vary from industry to industry, but. For example, education and social help employees tend to work more hours per week than those in the arts and entertainment industry, who work the fewest hours.
12 HOURS PER WEEK: WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR SOCIAL LIFE AND PERSONAL WELLBEING
While the average number of hours worked per week is 39.8, this doesn’t mean that you’re expected to put in the same number of hours every day. Some weeks you may put in a lot of hours, while others may work fewer hours. The average number of hours per week also doesn’t state how many days you work, so keep that in mind. For example, if you work 12 hours per week, that breaks down to two days. You may choose to work Monday and Friday or Thursday and Friday. While working 12 hours per week may sound like a great deal, keep in mind that you’re still working full-time.
3 SURPRISING REALITIES OF HAVING A FULL-TIME JOB
You may not have a set schedule:
Although you may have a full-time job, you may not have a set work schedule. This is especially true in creative industries, where you may be given some flexibility, such as working from home or having a more fluid hour.
You may need to take care of your family:
Being full-time work means taking on more responsibility than part-time workers and freelancers. This means that you may need to take care of your family by taking your kids to doctor’s appointments or picking them up from school.
You may have a more demanding job:
While a full-time job can be gratifying and beneficial to your career, it can also be challenging. Full-time positions are often more demanding than part-time or freelance jobs, so you may be required to take on more tasks and responsibilities.
2 TYPES OF FULL-TIME JOBS
Full-time employment: Employers may hire you for a full-time position, working 40 hours per week. Some employers offer part-time workers the opportunity to transition into full-time roles if they show an ability to handle more responsibilities.
Full-time student: If you’re a student working towards a degree, you may work full-time. You’re expected to work less than 19 hours per week as an undergraduate student, while graduate students are expected to put in more hours.
PROS AND CONS OF A FULL-TIME JOB
Working full-time can be rewarding and beneficial to your career, but it can also be stressful and challenging. Many full-time employees report feeling overwhelmed or stressed out by their work and struggle to find time for themselves and their loved ones. But, working full-time has many benefits, including consistent work and income, job security, and opportunities for growth and development. Many people prefer having a full-time job to working part-time.
WHY ARE FULL-TIME JOBS MORE STRESSFUL?
While full-time jobs are generally consistent, dependable, and offer good benefits, they can also be stressful. Depending on your specific job and company, you might work longer hours or be more prone to burnout. Suppose you work in a field that experiences a lot of change, such as marketing or journalism. In that case, you’re likely to be busier during certain times of the year, such as when you’re expected to come up with seasonal marketing campaigns or write articles related to holidays. If you work in a field with a high level of responsibility, such as healthcare or education, you may feel pressured to meet strict deadlines and handle a high volume of tasks.
WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY IN A FULL-TIME JOB LIKE?
Depending on your specific job, you may work in several different ways. Some jobs are more traditional and need you to be at your desk during particular hours, while others may allow you to work from anywhere. If you work in an office environment, you’ll likely start the day by getting ready for work. This may include showering and getting dressed, packing a lunch, and making coffee to fuel yourself for the day. When you arrive at the office, you may attend team meetings and set up for the day. This may include getting online, reviewing your calendar, and setting daily goals. After working for a few hours, you may take a lunch break and eat at your desk or outside.
CONCLUSION
Being a full-time employee doesn’t mean a person works full-time hours. There is a difference between full-time hours and full-time employment. For many reasons, some consider the term “part-time” more appropriate. But, there are many reasons that some people consider full-time to be a standard measure of employment. This article taught you how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) defines a full-time job. You learned how to use two standard criteria to determine whether you are employed full-time or part-time. Finally, you learned how to use an employer’s own definition of a full-time job to determine whether your work schedule is appropriate.
