Employed Part Time Research Articles

Socioeconomic characteristics and domestic work as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children

BackgroundFamily life satisfaction is an important contributor to the mental health of mothers with young children, who are particularly vulnerable to various sources of stressors. However, there is a dearth of studies on this topic in this demographic, the determinants of which likely differ across geographical and cultural contexts. We examined indicators of maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and domestic help as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children.MethodsMothers (N = 322) of young children (3–5 years old) were recruited from neighbourhoods stratified by SES and population density. They self-completed a survey containing items on socio-demographics, SES characteristics (including household income and maternal education and employment status), maternal family satisfaction and division of domestic work in the household and family. Confounder-adjusted associations of maternal SES indicators and participation in housework and childcare activities by various agents (e.g., mother, spouse, other residents) were estimated. We also estimated the moderating effects of household income on the associations between maternal employment and family satisfaction, and those of maternal employment on the associations between domestic work division and family satisfaction.ResultsHousehold income and maternal education were positively related to maternal family satisfaction. Mothers in part-time employment had lower family satisfaction than non-working mothers and mothers working full-time. The latter reported higher family satisfaction than non-working mothers only if their household income was below HK$ 15,000. Domestic work performed by non-residents was predictive of higher family satisfaction, while mothers’ housework and child(ren) tutoring were predictive of lower family satisfaction. Only part-time employed mothers benefited from spouse’s assistance with domestic work. The interaction effects of maternal employment status on the associations between the division of child tutoring and family satisfaction were complex.ConclusionsIn Hong Kong, mothers of young children with lower education and household income, who hold a part-time job and participate in housework and child tutoring activities have the lowest levels of family satisfaction and, hence, are at higher risk of mental health problems. Spouses’ and non-resident family members’ participation in domestic work, as well as the establishment of more family-friendly employment practices, may help mitigate this risk.Trial registrationN/A.

Treatment Engagement in Adolescents: The Associations of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Caregiver Perceived Barriers, and Clinical Impairment

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, perceived barriers to treatment, clinical impairment, and youth treatment engagement. Method Participants included 196 families (youth: ages 12 to 18; 64.3% cis-gender female; 23.5% Black, 60.7% White, and 12.2% Mixed/Other race; 41.3% Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity) recruited as part of a comparative effectiveness trial for adolescent anxiety and depression. Self-report measures of sociodemographic characteristics and caregiver perceived barriers were completed at intake. Youth clinical impairment was assessed at baseline via clinical interview. Measures of engagement were collected throughout treatment, including initiation status, session attendance, and termination status. Relationships were examined using analyses of variances and hierarchal linear and logistic modeling. Results Perceived barriers did not differ by sociodemographic characteristics. Greater perceived stressors and obstacles predicted fewer sessions attended and a lower likelihood of successful termination. Youth of caregivers with an advanced degree and those with caregivers who were employed part time attended more sessions and were more likely to initiate and terminate treatment successfully compared to youth with caregivers of a lower education level or student or unemployed status. At higher levels of youth clinical impairment, greater perceived treatment demands and issues predicted reduced likelihood of treatment initiation. Conclusions Perceived barriers, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical impairment were all associated with levels of engagement in the treatment process. Baseline and continued assessment of perceived and experienced barriers to treatment may promote individualized strategies for families identified as at-risk for reduced engagement.

Analyzing nurses’ decisions to leave their profession—a duration analysis

Many countries suffer from skilled labor shortages in nursing. One way to increase the nurse labor supply is to raise their retention rates. Yet, though several studies exist on factors associated with the nurse labor supply at different levels, literature on factors associated with nurses’ decisions to leave their occupation is relatively scarce. Based on German administrative data, I analyze the determinants of nurses’ decisions to leave their profession. My results suggest that younger nurses, nurses in the social sector, and nurses working with smaller employers leave their occupation more often than their counterparts, irrespective of their specific nursing occupations and care settings. Nurses leave more often where more alternative occupational options are available. Nurses who have been unemployed and nurses who have been employed in a different field have a higher probability of leaving the occupation, whereas nurses who just finished vocational training only have a moderate propensity to leave. Female nurses leave less often if employed part time. Female nurses in part time leave even more seldom if they have children. A change in the hospital reimbursement system and introducing a nursing minimum wage during the first decade of the century did not change nurses’ occupation durations.

Tobacco Knowledge, Attitudes, and Services Among Latino/a Community Health Workers.

Tobacco-related illnesses are among the leading preventable causes of death for Latinos/as in the United States. Latino/a groups are less likely to receive advice to quit from health professionals or use tobacco cessation strategies. The position of community health workers (CHWs) warrants further attention to address tobacco-related disparities in Latino/a communities. The objective of this study was to describe CHWs' roles to inform future smoking cessation training to ensure relevance and accessibility. A needs assessment survey, including a 10-item tobacco knowledge questionnaire, was conducted with 29 Latino/a CHWs serving Latino/a communities in a metropolitan area to assess their roles, tobacco related services, attitudes, and knowledge. All CHWs were Spanish-speaking and mainly employed part time (55%) in community organizations (67%). They offered various services, primarily health education. Most of the CHWs (58.6%) assessed and discussed tobacco use, yet half (51.7%) reported low confidence in this area. Some CHWs (41%) expressed that their clients/patients would use evidence-based nicotine replacement therapies as a smoking cessation treatment if offered and identified "Financial Cost" (31%) as a deterrent of use. CHWs' score on a tobacco knowledge questionnaire indicated low knowledge in areas related to tobacco (4.03 out of 10; SD = 1.92). CHWs reported low tobacco related knowledge and confidence, and would benefit from tailored tobacco cessation training to decrease tobacco cessation disparities.

Employment Pathways during Economic Recession and Recovery and Adult Health.

Our study bridges literatures on the health effects of job loss and life course employment trajectories to evaluate the selection into employment pathways and their associations with health in the short and medium terms. We apply sequence analysis to monthly employment calendars from a population-based sample of working-age women and men observed from 2009 to 2013 (N = 737). We identify six distinct employment status clusters: stable full-time employment, stable part-time employment, stably being out of the labor force, long-term unemployment, transition out of the labor force, and unstable full-time employment. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and health at baseline, those who transitioned out of the labor force showed significantly poorer self-rated health at follow-up, whereas steadily part-time employed respondents still showed a greater risk of meeting criteria for major or minor depression. The findings have important implications for how social scientists conceptualize and model the relationship between employment status and health.

Protected through Part-time Employment? Labor Market Status, Domestic Responsibilities, and the Life Satisfaction of German Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract The COVID-19 lockdown measures have challenged individuals to reconcile employment, childcare, and housework. This article addresses whether these challenges have reduced life satisfaction among German women by focusing on their labor market status and drawing upon a topical online survey (Kantar) collected in Germany at two points in time: May 2020 and November 2020. We find that part-time employed women were better protected against a decline in life satisfaction, but only during the first lockdown. Economically inactive women were most likely to experience a decline in life satisfaction during the first lockdown, but least likely during the second lockdown. Life satisfaction has further decreased between the first and the second lockdown, and the likelihood of a decrease has converged for full-time, part-time, and economically inactive women.

Analysis of learner demographics from a massive open online course in oral medicine

<h3>Objectives</h3> The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to review the learning impact of The Oral Cavity: Portal to Health and Disease (TOC), a massive open online course in oral medicine developed by Penn Dental Medicine using the Coursera platform; and (2) to analyze course enrollment to determine worldwide interest in accessible, high-quality oral medicine education. <h3>Methods</h3> The authors analyzed Coursera learner statistics to critically evaluate learner traits and course engagement for TOC, which launched on September 17, 2017, and covers topics relevant to oral medicine and the interprofessional relationship between dentistry and medicine. <h3>Results</h3> To date, TOC has garnered 16,653 visitors, 4,318 of whom have enrolled and demonstrate approximately steady continued monthly and daily engagement. Most learners are between 25 and 34 years of age, and 54% are female, reflecting interest in acquiring oral medicine–related knowledge in this demographic. TOC includes more participants than Coursera averages who have obtained professional and doctoral degrees. TOC participants also include more individuals who are unemployed, employed part time, and self-employed, demonstrating a broad range of participants. Some participants have successfully applied to and enrolled in dental schools and oral medicine residency programs, including at the University of Pennsylvania. Enrollees are from 6 continents, with higher proportions of learners than other courses on the platform being from Africa and Asia. The countries with the highest proportions of participants include the United States, India, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, demonstrating a geographically wide interest among these participants. One hundred twenty-six learners have rated the course with 4.9 of 5 stars; 95% of participants have given the course a "thumbs up"; and many submit positive reviews, including one individual who remarked, "It is a great course for dental students who want to know how systemic diseases or conditions may affect in [sic] the Oral Cavity." <h3>Conclusions</h3> Coursera is a worldwide technology platform that hosts free courses spanning various levels and disciplines. TOC presents an opportunity to learn oral medicine and interprofessional health care concepts for individuals with interests in dental, medical, and allied health professions. High learner engagement with wide global distribution demonstrates interest in oral medicine–related education worldwide.

Cross-spousal influences on mature-aged Australians’ transitions in and out of employment 2001–2017

This article uses data from the longitudinal Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey to examine cross-spousal influences on workforce transitions by men ( n = 4667) and women ( n = 5051) aged 50–69. We assess how gender patterns in employment (full- and part-time work) and non-employment activity (unemployment, non-employment and homemaking) changed among this age group over the period 2001–2017, which included the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008. Notwithstanding that more men than women were in full-time work, and more women than men were employed part time or were homemakers, over the period there was an overall rise in employment for both genders, which following the GFC continued most strongly for women. Random effects logistic regression on partnered men and women showed that prior to the GFC one spouse transitioning out of the labour market was associated with significantly higher odds of the other spouse also doing so. This implies coordination, for example spouses retiring together. In contrast, following the GFC, one spouse leaving paid employment was associated with higher odds of the other taking up work or increasing their hours, suggesting that the economic slowdown encouraged an added worker effect in those households, with one spouse compensating for the job loss of the other. The finding was apparent for both men and women.

The burden of familial chylomicronemia syndrome in Canadian patients

BackgroundFamilial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by persistent extreme hypertriglyceridemia as a result of lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Canada is an important region for FCS research due to the high prevalence rates. The burden of illness and quality of life of Canadian patients, however, have been inadequately addressed in the literature.ObjectiveTo understand the burden of illness of FCS on Canadian patients’ lives.MethodsIN-FOCUS is a global web-based survey open to patients with FCS, including patients in Canada. This survey captured information on diagnostic experience, symptoms, comorbidities, disease management, and impact on multiple life dimensions.ResultsA total of 37 Canadian patients completed the IN-FOCUS survey. Patients saw a mean of 4 physicians before their FCS diagnosis despite 89% reporting an FCS family history. Patients experience multiple physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms in addition to FCS-related comorbidities. Notably, 35% of those who answered the survey have experienced acute pancreatitis, averaging 14 lifetime episodes per patient. In the preceding 12 months, 46% of patients had an FCS-related hospitalization, averaging 3 nights’ stay. All respondents restricted fat intake, with 27% following an extremely low-fat diet. Despite this, 100% of patients reported fasting TG levels above the normal range. FCS impacted career choice in nearly all patients (97%) and employment status in all patients who were employed part time, disabled, or homemakers, causing many (> 75%) to choose careers below their level of abilities. Furthermore, 2/3 of patients reported FCS had a significant impact on their decision regarding whether to have children. Most report significant interference with their emotional/mental well-being, social relationships, and the majority were concerned about the long-term impact of FCS on their health (89%).ConclusionsThis study provides the first and largest study to investigate the multi-faceted psychosocial and cognitive impacts of FCS on patients. Canadian patients with FCS experience significant multi-faceted burdens that diminish their quality of life, employment opportunities, social relationships, and mental/emotional well-being. These results highlight the need for greater disease awareness, improved clinical diagnosis, broader clinical management for heterogenous symptoms, and more effective treatment options for FCS.

Abstract A118: Work changes and predictors of decreased work participation among African American cancer survivors

Abstract Background: Cancer-related financial hardship is common and is associated with lower health-related quality of life, particularly among African American cancer survivors. Employment outcomes during and after cancer treatment may represent modifiable risk factors to reduce financial hardship and improve wellbeing among cancer survivors, but employment outcomes among African American survivors are not well understood. Methods: We utilized data from the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort. African American adults ages 20-79 were eligible to join the cohort if they were diagnosed with a first primary breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer since January 1, 2013, as identified through the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System cancer registry. The present analyses include 445 survivors who reported being employed before their cancer diagnosis. We estimated prevalence of work-related outcomes, including changes to hours, duties, and schedules; and extended time off. We further estimated the prevalence and identified predictors of decreased work participation (going from being employed at diagnosis to not employed or from full time to part time employment) between diagnosis and ROCS baseline survey (median: 13 months) using modified Poisson regression. Adjusted models controlled for age, household income, and cancer site. Results: One-third (33%) of survivors reported taking at least one month off of work, including 19% who used paid sick time, 8% who used paid vacation, and 21% who took at least one month of unpaid time off. Changes to work schedules (46%), hours worked (40%), or work duties (25%) were also common. Nearly half (47%) of employed survivors experienced a decrease in work participation. A greater proportion of survivors employed full time before diagnosis reported being on disability at ROCS baseline compared with those employed part time (20.4% vs. 14.3%), while unemployment was more common among survivors employed part time before diagnosis (16.9% vs. 7.9%; p&amp;lt;0.001). In adjusted models, older age (RR 65+ vs. &amp;lt;55: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9), lower income (RR $80,000+ vs. &amp;lt;$20,000: 0.3, 95%CI: 0.2, 0.4), cancer site (RR lung vs. breast: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.0; RR colorectal vs. breast: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.7) and receipt of chemotherapy (RR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.8) were associated with decreased work participation, as were taking at least one month of unpaid time off (RR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.8) and changing work duties related to cancer (RR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.7). Conclusions: Our findings of strong associations between low household incomes and receipt of chemotherapy and decreased employment participation may represent opportunities to improve employment outcomes. Possible interventions focused on rehabilitation or additional policy or employer-level supports could improve employment outcomes among survivors at greatest risk for financial difficulties. Citation Format: Theresa A Hastert, Mrudula Nair, Julia Mantey, Jennifer L Beebe-Dimmer, Stephanie Pandolfi, Tara E Baird, Ann G Schwartz. Work changes and predictors of decreased work participation among African American cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A118.

Compensation and Benefits Survey 2019

Compensation and Benefits Survey 2019

Part Time Pay Penalties Persisting in US Labor Markets

Part Time Pay Penalties Persisting in US Labor Markets

Characteristics and drinking behaviour of patients on antiretroviral therapy who drink and attend HIV clinics in Tshwane, South Africa: Implications for intervention.

Patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who drink alcohol are at risk of poor medication adherence and negative health outcomes. To explore the drinking behaviour of patients on ART and assess the associations between drinking, adherence to ART and viral load, and in particular factors associated with binge drinking (≥6 drinks per occasion) at least monthly. We recruited 623 HIV patients from six hospitals in the Tshwane metropole who scored positive on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) but were 'non-dependent' drinkers into a randomised controlled trial. This article reports on baseline data. Of the patients, 51% reported drinking in the past week, 60% of men and 33% of women consumed ≥6 standard drinks on a typical drinking day, and 19% of men and 5% of women were identified as drinking at harmful levels. Over a quarter reported having a friend or relative, or a doctor or other healthcare worker, express concern about their drinking or suggest that they cut down. AUDIT total scores were significantly negatively correlated with self-reported adherence to ART and positively correlated with viral load. Number of years on ART was not significantly associated with binge drinking. Persons who were employed part time (odds ratio (OR) 1.474) or were self-employed (OR 2.135) were more likely to binge-drink than unemployed persons. Beer drinkers (OR 1.716) were more at risk for binge drinking than non-beer drinkers, and persons who drank monthly or less (OR 0.053) or 2 - 4 times a month (OR 0.168) were less at risk for bingeing than those who drank ≥4 times per week. The high volume of alcohol consumed per occasion by patients on ART, especially beer and spirits drinkers, is a concern. Interventions that address structural drivers of heavy drinking and target HIV patients at risk of heavy drinking are needed.

Treatment of patients with HIV or hepatitis C by pharmacist clinicians in a patient-centered medical home.

This report describes an innovative pharmacy practice model assisting in the care of patients living with or at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the state of New Mexico, pharmacists can obtain prescribing privileges through a Pharmacist Clinician (PhC) license. The license allows PhCs to assess patients, order laboratory/diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, and bill select insurances. PhCs have developed a practice model for patients living with or at risk of HIV and/or HCV at a Level 3 National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2015, 5 PhCs, employed part time, were involved with 8 different clinics: (1) HIV Adherence and Complex Care, (2) HIV Transitions of Care, (3) HCV Mono- and Co-Infection, (4) HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), (5) HIV Primary Care and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, (6) Young Adult Clinic, (7) Perinatal HIV, and (8) Pediatric HIV. In 2015, PhCs at the clinic billed for 774 direct patient encounters. Pharmacists with the PhC license are able to provide high-quality medical care to patients living with or at risk of HIV and/or HCV infections within an interprofessional medical home model.

Exploring the Links Between Part-Time Employment and Absenteeism: the Mediating Roles of Organizational Commitment and Work-Family Conflict

As part-time employed spends less time in the organization than full-time employed, the result will probably be less affective commitment to the organization (AOC), resulting in higher absenteeism. On the other hand, working part-time may lower work-family conflict (WFC), resulting in lower absenteeism. A survey conducted in a Norwegian hospital at the end of 2012, yielded 1864 valid responses (% response = 36). Survey data was coupled with register data on days of absence in 2014. The findings indicate a direct negative effect of PTE on absenteeism, and a negative indirect effect through WFC.

Emergency Action Planning in Secondary School Athletics: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Current Adoption of Best Practice Standards.

Emergency action plans (EAPs) are policies that improve response times and ensure access to emergency equipment for the management of patients with acute injuries and medical conditions, yet the extent to which EAP standards are adopted and implemented is unknown. To describe the extent of EAP adoption and implementation in secondary school (SS) athletics with athletic trainer (AT) services in the United States. Cross-sectional study. Web-based questionnaire. A national sample of ATs (n = 9642) was invited to participate in a Web-based questionnaire. Twelve components of EAP minimum best practices were derived from the "National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Position Statement: Emergency Planning in Athletics." Emergency action plan components were analyzed using descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around proportions. Contingency tables (2 × 2) were used to calculate odds ratios (with 95% CIs) to assess adoption of the components (dichotomized as yes or no), employment factors (eg, full time versus part time, employed by clinic/district), and access to emergency equipment. The response rate for the questionnaire was 13.2% (n = 1273). A majority of ATs (89.1%) reported having an EAP; however, only 9.9% described implementing all 12 components cited in the NATA position statement. Athletic trainers stated that they created the EAP in 62.8% (95% CI = 60.1%, 65.4%) of schools with an EAP. Athletic trainers employed full time were at greater odds of adopting 9 or more components of the EAP compared with ATs employed part time (odds ratio = 2.42 [95% CI = 1.66, 3.53]). A total of 85.7% of ATs noted access to an automated external defibrillator. Although a majority of SSs had EAPs, the EAPs were often incomplete and lacked the necessary components for full compliance with the NATA position statement. These findings demonstrate the need for efforts to promote the adoption and implementation of comprehensive EAPs in SS athletics.

"I actually just really need to stop work sometimes": Exploring fatigue-related barriers to employment among people with rheumatic diseases.

Fatigue is a common symptom of many rheumatic diseases (RDs), but more research is needed to explore the experience of fatigue and its impact on employment among people with RDs. The aim of the present study was to investigate experiences of fatigue, its impact on employment and strategies that people with RD use to continue working. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with five participants with a range of RDs living in New Zealand (three women, two men; aged 45-64years). All participants were employed part time at the time of the interview. The transcripts were subjected to inductive thematic analysis, led by the first author, who had an RD. Four themes resulted from the analysis: (a) workplace management and coping strategies; (b) the function of positive workplace relationships; (c) barriers to understanding; and (d) collectively improving understanding. These themes act to explain how individuals with RDs in employment believe fatigue to have a bearing on their work, how they manage fatigue at work, how they believe coworkers and employers perceive and manage their fatigue, and what they believe could improve the understanding of fatigue in workplaces. Individuals with RDs in employment describe fatigue as playing a substantial role in their experiences at work. This research expands on previous literature addressing barriers to employment in those with RDs by specifically addressing the relevance of fatigue. It is imperative to provide information to employers, and guidelines for employees with an RD who are experiencing fatigue should outline appropriate strategies for success at work.

Cognition with magnetic resonance imaging findings and social activities in patients with multiple sclerosis in a Japanese cohort

AbstractObjectiveWe investigated the association of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and social activities with cognition in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsCognition was evaluated by the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), using previously published data for 156 Japanese patients with MS. The BICAMS results were analyzed with available MRI data, focusing on hyperintense lesions on T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between the BICAMS scores and social activities (i.e. “student,” “employed full time,” “employed part time,” “homemaker” and “unemployed because of MS”). The independent variables were the BICAMS scores, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale, sex, age at examination, education and disease duration. The dependent variable was the “social activity.”ResultsAnalysis of variance showed that patients with MS and more cerebral lesions on MRI had lower scores in all three domains of the BICAMS (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the second edition of the California Verbal Learning Test and the revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test). Scores of all three domains were also significantly lower in patients with cerebellar lesions. Regarding social activities, patients who were unemployed because of MS had lower BICAMS scores compared with employed patients. However, the BICAMS domain scores did not independently affect the other social activities.ConclusionsHigher numbers of cerebral lesions and the presence of cerebellar lesions evaluated by MRI affect cognitive function based on the BICAMS. Cognitive function might affect social activities in patients with MS.

Changing labour market risks in the service economy: Low wages, part-time employment and the trend in working poverty risks in Germany

The article presents an analysis of the development of labour market risks in Germany in light of changing working poverty risks. Low hourly wages and part-time employment are identified as the main demand-side-related mechanisms for household poverty. Their measurement and development are discussed as well as their contribution to trends in working poverty risks. A rise in low wages, especially among part-time employed households, was decisive for the increase in working poverty risks in Germany by 45% between the end of the 1990s and the end of the 2000s. We therefore study these trends more closely in the multivariate analysis. The results show that while low wages are unequally distributed across occupations and industries, shifts in employment between sectors explain only a minor part of the change in low wages. However, they reveal a polarization of low-wage risks by skill-level and sector of employment, on the one hand, and full-time and part-time employees, on the other hand.

Implications of ICT-based platforms on labor markets – the case of Uber

ICT platforms mediating in the labor area build on labor markets with people being under-employed and/or part-time employed. The extent to which such platforms currently contribute to the general trends in part-time or self-employment can be difficult to assess, as the figures presently are relatively small in the large picture. But there can hardly be any doubt that these ICT platforms in the longer run will reinforce trends towards part-time employment and, at any rate, unstable work and work conditions