There has been a lot of talk in recent years about flexible hours, a symptom of the search for a better work-family balance. However, although some workers have opted for this type of schedule, the trend appears to be taking hold rather gingerly among managers…
Little supply
At this time, you only need to make a quick tour of the various employment sites to understand that the supply of positions for part-time executives is underdeveloped. Specializing in recruitment of candidates for positions in communications-marketing, human resources and sales, the recruitment and training agency La Tête Chercheuse also sees the same thing in the field. “Up to now, we have only had a few part-time offers for managers,” says one of the company’s consultants. “The few offers we have had have come from non-profit organizations.”
Good reasons to opt for working part-time
Yet there seems to be a trend emerging on the demand side. In addition, there are many benefits to hiring part-time managers. In the first place, expenses for salaries and benefits are lower, which can be very useful for SMEs, NPOs or start-ups. For an amount that is easier on its budget, a small company can benefit from the services of an experienced manager.
As well, posting for a part-time manager can, in some cases, attract more candidates, including retired or semi-retired people with the desired expertise. This is not an insignificant advantage since at present there tends to be a lack of those of the next generation ready to take the helm. To this end, a survey conducted by Leger Marketing in 2012 indicated that public and private enterprises believed they would lose about 20% of their executives… by 2017!
Is working long hours counterproductive?
Thirdly, it seems as well that beyond a certain age, working more than 25 hours a week is bad for performance and personal health. Indeed, according to a study by three economists in Use it Too Much and Lose It? The Effect of Working Hours on Cognitive Ability, it is detrimental to our cognitive functions to work more than 25 hours a week after 40 years of age. If we add to this the fact that in 2012 it was estimated that more than 60% of managers were between 50 and 59 years old… It’s not very surprising that about 38% of part-time workers were 55 years old and above in 2016, according to Statistics Canada.
To sum up, although positions for part-time managers are still quite rare, it still seems to be a growing trend among applicants. With a professional background, it’s a safe bet that the concept will go a long way!