Part-time Work Research Articles

African international students’ challenges, investment and identity development at a highly selective EMI university in Kazakhstan

This article documents the reflections of six African second-year master’s students on their international educational experiences in Kazakhstan with a special focus on their challenges, strategic learning efforts and identity development. It is guided by Norton’s conceptualisation of investment in identity, language learning, and social change. The qualitative data collected from a written narrative and two subsequent rounds of individual semi-structured interviews suggest that participants pursued their studies at an English-medium instruction university in Kazakhstan mainly because of the fully-funded scholarships. However, their expectations regarding the university and Kazakhstan were unclear, as they received no pre-departure orientation. Despite being satisfied with the high-quality education in the host institution, they faced challenges such as difficulty securing part-time work due to a lack of proficiency in local languages (Kazakh and Russian), enduring prolonged cold weather, and limited opportunities for socialising with other students. Most participants described Kazakhstan as ‘a peaceful and progressive country’; however, two participants experienced linguistic racism in the classroom. This study underlines the significance of addressing the issues of graduate employability and linguistic racism, along with implementing pedagogical interventions in all phases of study abroad and fostering a sense of intercultural citizenship among students.

Returning to Work Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: The Survivor's Perspective

While curing a patient's underlying disease is the primary goal of physicians performing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the ultimate objective is to provide patients with optimal post-HCT quality of life. For many survivors, this includes returning to work (RTW). We conducted a survey of 1- to 5-yr post-HCT survivors at our center to evaluate their perspective on facilitators and barriers to RTW as well as to gauge interest in potentially useful RTW support interventions. Survivors aged 18 to 65 yrs (n = 994) were sent an annual survey that included 36 supplementary questions about post-HCT RTW. Survey questions were selected from published national cancer survivor surveys and then modified specifically for HCT survivors. Three hundred forty-four (35%) survivors with a mean age of 53 yrs completed the survey, of whom 272 (79%) had worked prior to their diagnosis. Of those 272 patients, 145 (53%) were working currently and another 22 (8%) had attempted to go back to work following HCT but were not presently working. We found that having had an allogeneic versus autologous HCT (P = .006) was associated with a decreased likelihood of currently working, whereas frequent employer communication (>once a month) (P = .070) and having a more supportive employer (P = .036) were associated with a greater chance of currently working. Of survivors currently working, 45% reported that they had made one or more changes to their work schedule (e.g., flexible schedule or part-time work) or environment (e.g., work from home) upon RTW. Ninety-five percent of responders reported that they could have benefited from RTW support provided by the transplant center, but only 13% indicated that they had received it. Education on RTW challenges, information on disability benefits, and access to physical therapy were among the most requested support interventions. To improve post-HCT quality of life for survivors open to assistance, providers should address work status and goals, recognize barriers to successful return, and offer RTW support including working directly with employers. Allogeneic HCT survivors are particularly vulnerable to failing attempts to RTW and should be the target of retention interventions. A previously published manuscript on RTW guidance for providers of stem cell transplant patients endorsed by the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy is available in Open Access and can be used as a tool to counsel and support these patients.

의사결정나무분석을 활용한 중장년 근로자의 일자리 특성 분석

The study aimed to examine job characteristics for middle-aged workers using decision tree analysis. To do this, data from the 25th wave of the Korean Labor Panel (year 2022) was utilized, with a study sample 4,570. First, the factor with the most significant impact on employment according to gender was identified as 'work hours format.' When working full-time, the percentage decreased by 36.5% for women and increased by 63.5% for men. For part-time work, the percentage increased significantly by 85.5% for women and decreased by 14.5% for men. Second, the factor with the most significant impact on employment according to age range was identified as 'highest education level.' For those with a high school education or below, the percentage decreased by 38.2% for ages 40-49 and increased by 61.8% for ages 50-59. For those with a college degree or higher, the percentage increased by 66.0% for ages 40-49 and 70.0% for those with an associate degree. Third, summarizing the study results, the proportion of men is higher for individuals with a college degree or higher, working full-time, and having high job satisfaction. On the other hand, the proportion of women is higher for those working part-time and having a high level of welfare benefits. Additionally, for individuals with an associate degree, stable employment, and job satisfaction, the proportion of those in their 40s is higher. For those with a high school education or below, working in non-office jobs, and having unstable employment, the proportion of those in their 50s is higher. Given that middle-aged workers are more likely to withdraw from the labor market as they age, continuous evaluation of educational training and policy support for job sustainability is necessary. There is a need for support to maintain quality employment even after reemployment.

A first step to clarity: Review of ECJ judgment of 19 October 2023, C-660/20(MK vs Lufthansa CityLine GmbH), ECLI:EU:C:2023:789

This article finds that the ECJ, in its judgment of 19 October 2023 (C-660/20), has succeeded in achieving a good degree of legal clarity by stating that difference in treatment of part-time workers can be established on the basis of a comparison of individual components of the remuneration. It calls on the ECJ to avoid treating a formal assessment as a decisive issue, and highlights the substantive arguments the ECJ makes about the justification of differential treatment.

The Dynamics of Part-time Employment among University Students: Balancing Work, Education, and Personal Growth

This research delves into the intricacies of part-time employment among university students, exploring the various dimensions of their engagement with work alongside their academic endeavors. Employing a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys and interviews, the study investigates students’ motivations, the nature of their part-time jobs, the benefits and challenges they encounter, and the strategies they employ to balance work with their studies. The analysis provides a deeper understanding of how part-time employment influences students’ academic performance, skill development, and personal growth. The findings highlight the dual role of part-time work in offering practical experience and financial support while also presenting potential challenges to academic commitments. This study contributes valuable insights into the strategies that can optimize the balance between work and education, enhancing students’ overall development and readiness for their future careers.

Women’s Work Characteristics and Fertility Expectations

Previous research has shown that employment is an important social context affecting fertility, yet relatively little is known about the extent to which work characteristics affect fertility expectations. Using over 25 years of data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, we analyzed the associations between part-time work and characteristics associated with autonomy over working time, specifically self-employment and managerial/professional occupation, and childbearing expectations among women ages 18–45 (N = 4,415). Logistic regression models for longitudinal data reveal that work characteristics are significantly associated with fertility expectations, but that the specific nature of the relationship varies by parity. Among women with one child, those working part-time had predicted probabilities of expecting to have additional children that were 2% higher than those working full-time. In contrast, among women without any children, those working part-time had predicted probabilities that were 2% lower than those working full-time. Similar contrasting relationships by parity were found when comparing self-employed women to employees and managers/professionals to those in other occupations. Findings were consistent across racial and ethnic groups. These results suggest that different mechanisms link work characteristics to fertility plans for mothers and non-mothers, specifically that role incompatibility and work-family conflict are more salient for mothers but that financial strain is so for non-mothers.

A systematic review of the literature on student work and academic performance

Student work is becoming more prevalent throughout the world. More students are not only working but doing more hours per week, which very likely affects their academic performance. This paper provides a systematic literature review (SLR) of 347 papers, focusing on the: indicators of academic performance, relation between student part-time work and academic performance, and drivers of students’ decision to work. Researchers note both positive and negative relations between student work and academic performance, with the positive connection less reported. The positive relation primarily involves students’ improved ability to link theory with practice, while the negative impact of work on academic success is associated with more time devoted to work. The common tangible key driver of students’ decision to work is meeting financial needs, and the intangible drivers include gaining work experience and developing practical skills. This paper’s contributions lie in systematising positive and negative impacts of student work on academic performance and providing a better understanding of the drivers of students’ work engagement. The results can ultimately serve as bases for further research on student work’s impact on academic performance, as well as incentives for higher education institutions to rethink the possibilities of better integration of student work into curricula.

Italian women workers and women activists between home and factory: the struggle against labour precarity (1950s–1970s)

AbstractFrom a gender historical perspective, labour precarity constitutes a long-term phenomenon. Women's work represents a privileged observatory to understand how instability and precarity also characterised the cycle of economic and industrial expansion of the 1950s and 1960s. The article compares the conditions of female factory workers with those of home-based workers, a traditionally invisible category of workers, who between the 1960s and 1970s promoted demonstrations and protests with the support of trade unions, women's associations and local institutions. Changes in the subjectivity of women workers and homeworkers, whose demands often came together and gave rise to joint protests, not only became part of broader discussions on the relationship between industrial crisis and precariousness, but also generated discourses on specific forms of work that are now central to debates on flexible/precarious work such as part-time work.

청년 아르바이트생의 차별경험과 진로미결정의 관계

Objectives In this study, we tested the mediating effect of belief in a just world in the relationship between young part-time workers' experiences of discrimination and career indecision.
 Methods An online survey was conducted targeting young people aged 15 to 34 with part-time work experience. The final 259 copies were used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 23.0 statistical program. And to verify the mediation effect, bootstrapping was performed to verify statistical significance.
 Results The average experience of discrimination was 3.06, the average career indecision was 2.32, and the average belief in a fair world was 3.77. and the average belief in a just world was 3.77. There was a positive correlation that the more discrimination experiences young part-time workers had, the higher their career indecision. There was a negative correlation between the experience of discrimination and overall belief in a just world, distributive justice belief, and procedural justice belief. It was confirmed that belief in a just world had a full mediating effect on the impact of youth discrimination experiences on career indecision. In addition, the partial mediating effect of distributive justice belief and the full mediating effect of procedural justice belief, which are subvariables of belief in a just world, were confirmed.
 Conclusions This study emphasizes the need to consider the cognitive variable of belief in a just world in the relationship between young part-time workers' experiences of discrimination and career indecision. Based on this, we laid the foundation to reduce the career indecision of young part-time workers who are experiencing discrimination and provide education and counseling opportunities to help young people enter the labor market.

Learning to cope with the reality of endometriosis: A mixed-methods analysis of psychological therapy in women with endometriosis.

Despite the need and uptake of mental health support by women with endometriosis, no research to date has explored their experience of psychological therapy. We aimed to understand the factors that predict engagement in psychological therapy by Australian women with endometriosis and to qualitative explore their experience of psychological support. Mixed-methods design. A total of 200 women with self-reported endometriosis were recruited from the community. We explored; (1) the demographic and clinical predictors of engagement in psychological therapy, (2) the psychological approaches that seem most valuable to women in the management of endometriosis and (3) their experience engaging in psychological therapy for endometriosis. Nearly half of women reported to have seen a psychologist within the past year, particularly for pain. Younger age (OR, .94; 95% CI, .886-.993), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.002-1.099), and working part time compared to full time (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.012-4.668), increased the likelihood of engaging in psychological therapy. Template thematic analysis identified three themes; (1) endometriosis and pain have multi-faceted psychological effects, (2) psychological support is sought to adjust and live with endometriosis and (3) there are helpful and unhelpful psychological tools for women with endometriosis. Our findings support the use of psychological therapy in the management of endometriosis, and the need for psychological therapy to acknowledge the chronicity and impact of symptoms, to enlist multidisciplinary support and to consider alternative options. Further advocacy is required to educate women on the benefits of psychological therapy for endometriosis.

Labor market regulation and the cyclicality of involuntary part-time work

In times of economic crisis, many employers in liberal labor markets reduce their employees’ working hours, which leads to an increase in the incidence of involuntary part-time work. We analyze the effectiveness of working time regulation in preventing such an increase during downswings. For this we look at the case of Germany, where hours adjustments are highly restricted by law. Using a state-level panel regression approach, we find that the incidence of involuntary part-time work is positively associated with the unemployment rate but that the association is much weaker than in the US and in the UK. Transition probabilities between employment states over the cycle suggest two particular underlying mechanisms: First, already employed workers are more likely to want a full-time position in economic downturns (“added hours effect”). Second, job seekers make concessions with regards to their desired hours when labor market conditions are bad (“reservation hours effect”). We are the first to document these margins of cyclical hours adjustments which are fundamentally different from those in less regulated labor markets, where the cyclicality of involuntary part-time work is predominantly driven by hours changes at the same employer.

Did Inequalities in Mothers' and Children's Health and Well-Being in Japan Increase through the Pandemic? Evidence from Nationwide Surveys and Routinely Collected Data.

Marginalised families faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores inequalities in Japanese mothers' and children's health and well-being and family economic stability before and during the pandemic. Data sources were as follows: nationwide surveys in 2019 and 2021 of families with children using medical institutions across Japan; infant mortality and adolescent suicide rates between 2018 and 2021 from publicly available sources. Outcomes by poor and non-poor families were compared for 2019 and 2021 using simple descriptive statistics. Poor mothers' part-time working increased from 41% to 61% and regular employment was reduced by two thirds. The well-being of poor mothers worsened from 39% to 55%. Employment opportunities and well-being did not change for non-poor mothers. School subsidies among poor families increased from 23% to 55%. The infant mortality rate (IMR) among unemployed families increased significantly from 12.9/1000 to 18.2/1000 between 2018 and 2021 compared with a decreasing overall IMR from 1.9/1000 to 1.7/1000. Suicide rates in 10-19-year-olds increased over the same period although no socio-economic indicators were available. Inequalities in mothers' and children's health and well-being indicators and family economics increased between 2019 to 2021 in Japan. This study cannot attribute causes but suggests a possible role of the pandemic.

Which interventions are used in the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers having suffered an occupational injury? A scoping review.

Considering current labour shortages, the recent increase in the number of aging workers in the labour market is deemed economically beneficial. However, due to specific characteristics (e.g. biological, generational), aging workers take longer to recover and return to work after an occupational injury. Yet, few studies have examined the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers and current knowledge makes it difficult for stakeholders to identify which interventions to use with this specific population. This study aimed to describe which interventions are used in the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers having suffered an occupational injury. We conducted a five-step scoping review. Five databases were used for the literature search. A qualitative analysis of the retained manuscripts was conducted. Our analysis led to the extraction of information from seven manuscripts that concern the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers who suffered an occupational injury exclusively. We identified 19 interventions (e.g. work capacity development, work task modifications, permanent part-time work, and alternative roles) and were described according to the different phases of the Cycle of Work Disability Prevention (CWDP). This study offers informative, non-prescriptive, and operational interventions useful for stakeholders who support aging workers. Furthermore, it is a knowledge base to develop future projects that promote the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers.

Ograniczenia budżetowe gospodarstw domowych w Polsce – analiza z wykorzystaniem EUROMOD-u

The following important changes affecting Polish households’ disposable income were introduced in 2022: the personal income tax (PIT) threshold was increased and its rate lowered, the tax exempt amount was raised, the possibility of deducting health insurance contributions from PIT was abolished, and the rules for granting housing allowance were modified. The aim of the research discussed in the paper was to determine the total direct impact of the above-mentioned changes on the amount of disposable income of a single parent and an individual managing a one-person household. The research was based on the EUROMOD tax-benefit microsimulation model and the hypothetical household method. A comparison of the budget constraints of July 2021 and July 2022 shows a decrease in real disposable income among low-skilled part-time workers or those working part of the year. It was found that the changes introduced in the area of housing allowance eligibility may have negatively affected the income of individuals living in one-person households receiving wages of less than 40% of the average salary. The lack of indexation of benefits is also observed to have had a negative impact on single parents’ income.

교권 회복 및 보호에 대한 인식 연구

This study sought to find out the attitudes and perceptions of college students regarding the restoration and protection of their teaching rights and to make suggestions for establishing future policies and measures to protect their teaching rights. In the month of November 2023, a web-based survey, Google Questionnaire, was used to collect data with a total of 390 students in college located in "C"-do. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used to determine the perception of restoration and protection of teaching rights, and the LSD method was used for post-test. Significance was set at p < 0.05.
 The questionnaire used as a measurement tool consisted of general characteristics of the research subjects (8 questions), student human rights ordinance and teacher rights (12 questions), strengthening of teacher rights and protection of educational activities (11 questions), and communication system between student’s parents and teachers (11 questions). It consisted of a total of 43 questions, and a 5-point Likert scale was used. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire items, Cronbach’s α coefficient was calculated. As a result, the Cronbach’s α coefficients of all subfactors ranged from .943 to .977.
 As a result of examining the level of awareness according to the general characteristics of the research subjects, excluding the presence or absence of a teacher in the family within the 4th degree, gender, affiliation(teacher's college student/non-pedagogical college student), grade(1st to 4th college students), whether kindergarten, elementary and middle school students have part-time jobs, and whether or not they have experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, or high school. There appeared to be a statistical difference (p<.05). Overall, the awareness of the Student Human Rights Ordinance and teachers' rights was highest among teachers' students and students who experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, and high school.
 As a result of examining the awareness of the restoration and protection of teaching rights by section of the questionnaire, the results showed that students in teachers' colleges, 3rd and 4th grade female college students, students in kindergartens, elementary and middle school students, students with experience working part-time, and students with a teacher in their family within the 4th degree of kinship. Students who experienced school violence while attending elementary, middle, or high school had a high level of awareness. Among students who experienced school violence, victims had a higher level of awareness of the restoration and protection of school rights than perpetrators.

Perceptions, Beliefs, and Experiences about the Menstrual Cycle and Menstruation among Young Women: A Qualitative Approach.

The experience of menstruation is often associated with negative connotations and gender stereotypes, which results in making it invisible. This research aimed to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of young Spanish women regarding the menstrual cycle and menstruation and their impact on their lives. The study delves into their understanding, menstrual management practices, the types of menstrual products employed, and their experiences related to menstrual health. Qualitative methodology was used with discussion groups as a data collection technique. The participants comprised 45 young Spanish women, aged between 18 and 23, hailing from both rural and urban areas. The majority were university students, with some engaged in part-time work, and one participant working full-time. While many experienced menstrual pain ranging from mild to debilitating, a normalization of this pain often led them to forego seeking specialist assistance. Disposable menstrual products (DMPs) are the most used by participants, despite limited awareness of their absorption capacity. Regarding reusable menstrual products (RMPs), menstrual cup users emphasized comfort but expressed a need for proper training. Negative menstruation experiences could evoke fear and difficulties, underscoring the importance of providing comprehensive menstrual health education encompassing both theoretical and practical components.

Tussle of identities: Indian women engineers on work–family conflict

PurposeThis study aims to focus on understanding the work–family conflict of Indian women engineers through the lens of identity conflict.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews conducted with 20 Indian women engineers working in India and abroad of varying ages and work experience helped in understanding the types, sources and coping decisions about work–family conflicts experienced by them. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the qualitative data.FindingsThe findings reveal that as women engineers negotiate their “engineering” and “woman” identities, work–family conflict manifests as a battle of time and responsibilities, psychological strain and behaviour-based conflict. Furthermore, self-expectations and negative social sanctions play an important role in augmenting the experiences of these conflicts. The results also reveal how women re-strategize their career decisions to conciliate their conflicting identities.Originality/valueThis study furthers the literature on resolving work–family conflict by taking an identity perspective. Recommendations in literature such as work flexibility and part-time work, place the onus on women to increase their capacities to perform different roles better. Examining work–family conflict from an identity perspective allows us to look at the psychological processes underlying the challenges women face in balancing work and home in a male-dominated profession. These give insights into the need to go beyond accommodations in the workplace to redefine gender roles and relations for equal participation of women in the modern workforce.

Family-oriented versus career seekers: mixture regression separation

Using a finite mixture regression approach, we identify two groups of individuals, family- and career-oriented. Depending on whether the employment status is treated as a binomial or trinomial (with part-time work) variable, 55–70% of women and 4–10% of men belong to the family-oriented group. Children variables are the main source of differences between the two identified groups and between the family-oriented group and the average woman. Treating all women as one group leads to averaged-out estimates of children effects and underestimates the importance of part-time work for family-oriented women. Our results are important for studying women’s labour supply and for designing policies aimed at encouraging women’s labour market involvement.

Rethinking Part-Time Outsiders’ Risks and Welfare Attitudes

The growth of atypical work has created a divide between insiders, with safe jobs, and outsiders, in fixed-term, part-time, and/or precarious work situations. Due to higher economic risk, outsiders support compensating social policies more than insiders. However, the same consistency has not been found in the attitudes of part-time outsiders. Consequently, this article suggests an expansion from the work-nexus to the care-nexus of welfare when examining these outsiders’ political behavior. Findings from a structural equation framework using Norwegian data (N = 2,254) from 2022 show that part-time outsiders experience higher risk of partner dependency, making them more likely to support optional familialism in family policy. As part-time work is strongly feminized, these findings have important implications for gender equality in the private and public spheres. Additionally, the results call for future research on insider/outsider dynamics to take both the work-nexus and care-nexus of the welfare state into account.

Life satisfaction and time-use among full-time and part-time working mothers in Brazil.

Working part-time or full-time is a persistent dilemma for women, especially mothers, as they strive to manage their time across various roles. However, the existing literature remains unclear on whether part-time work contributes more to life satisfaction than full-time work. This study aims to describe and compare time-use patterns in different occupational roles and levels of life satisfaction among 795 mothers in Brazil who are employed either part-time or full-time. Data was collected through an online survey and the snowball technique. Regression and correlation analyses were performed on the data obtained from the following instruments: the Role Checklist for assessing time-use within occupational roles, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and demographic information. Our analysis revealed no significant differences in life satisfaction between mothers working full-time and those working part-time (t (793)=1.160, p = 0.24). However, life satisfaction scores were positively correlated with the number of occupational roles performed (r = 0.222, p < 0.01), higher family income (P < 0.001), and engagement in social roles such as Friend (r = 0.106, p = 0.003), Hobbyist/Amateur (r = 0.08, p = 0.018), and Caregiver (r = 0.07, p = 0.026). While our society places significant emphasis on time spent at work, our findings highlight that life satisfaction extends far beyond the dichotomy of working part-time or full-time. There are deeper dimensions to consider, including the number of occupational roles, family income, and engagement in social roles, which have a more substantial impact on overall life satisfaction.