One in 10 part-timers on £40,000 salary scale

One in 10 part-time workers in Britain is on a salary scale of at least £40,000 a year, challenging the general belief that top jobs are always full-time positions, new research reveals.

Some 650,000 part-timers are in jobs paying a minimum of £40,000 on a full-time equivalent level, according to a study by recruiters Timewise.

But more than a third of senior part-time employees would never use the word “part-time” when describing their role, suggesting there is a stigma attached, the report said.

One in seven of the 2,000 people polled said they try to keep their reduced-hours status concealed, while two in five said they felt there was a negative label attached to being a part-timer.

Karen Mattison of Timewise said: “Behind the doors of many British businesses are thousands of senior professionals, working at the top of their game, on a part-time basis, because they want to.

“People say ‘part time and senior can’t be done’ but thanks to employers who get the business benefits of hiring talented people on a part-time basis, there are now part time finance directors, heads of communications, even part time CEOs out there.”

The top two reasons for working part-time are looking after children and wanting flexibility, according to the analysis.

However, the report also reveals that more than seven in 10 Brits don’t believe it is possible to work part-time and be in a senior position.