The most popular health benefits provided to part-time employees in the United States include health insurance (54 per cent), prescription drug coverage (53 per cent), dental and vision care (52 per cent) and flexible spending accounts (47 per cent), according to data from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
The survey, which looked at benefits trends for part-time employees, found 78 per cent of respondents currently employ part timers, with 90 per cent of this group defining part time as working less than 30 hours a week.
“As the workforce shifts toward more flexible work options and away from the traditional 40-hour week, it’s becoming increasingly more important to establish benefit policies for part-time workers,” said Julie Stich, associate vice-president of content at the foundation, in a press release.
Read: Canadian labour standards not keeping up with changing workplaces, says government
The Affordable Care Act requires U.S. organizations that employ 50 or more full-time workers to offer health benefits to employees working at least 30 hours a week. About a third (37 per cent) of survey respondents said their employees must work a minimum of 30 hours a week to receive health insurance.
The vast majority (94 per cent) of survey respondents said they offer flexible work arrangements. Of this group, the paid leave offerings included holidays (68 per cent), bereavement leave (63 per cent), sick pay (52 per cent) and short-term disability leave (41 per cent).
“U.S. organizations are not required to provide paid leave to part-time workers, but many do for several reasons: to retain high-performing workers, attract high-quality applicants, build worker loyalty and provide work-life balance,” said Stich.
Read: Majority of Canadian organizations offer flexible working options: survey