In the United States, health insurance has gotten completely out of control. Come down with symptoms of something that’s relatively innocuous – swimmer’s ear, conjunctivitis, or a sinus infection, for example – and a trip to the doctor to seek a diagnosis and treatment can cost a small fortune. In fact, about half of American adults put off or completely skip getting the medical care they need because the cost is so high. About one-fourth of American adults claim that they or a member of their family have had difficulty paying their medical bills, and around half of those individuals said that their medical expenses have had a serious impact on their families. Furthermore, issues with medical bills disproportionately affect individuals and families who do not have health insurance coverage.
The above-mentioned data is alarming, to say the least, which is why employer-sponsored health insurance is so important to Americans. The fact that 79 percent of employees would prefer new or additional benefits over an increase in their income illustrates just how important employer-sponsored health insurance is to Americans. If you’re currently working a full-time job that doesn’t offer benefits or the benefits provided aren’t enough, or your soul purpose of seeking a job is to obtain health insurance coverage, you may be wondering if there are any part-time jobs out there that offer benefits.
The good news is, there is! There are a lot of companies that offer employees who work less-than full-time benefits, and some of the options that are offered are pretty solid. If you’re looking for a gig that offers benefits but you aren’t able to work full-time, keep on reading for some helpful information.
What’s a Part-Time Job?
Before we dive into part-time jobs that offer benefits, it’s first important to define what a part-time job is. A lot of people assume that there’s a definitive definition, but there isn’t – at least legally speaking – which the US Department of Labor made clear when they stated that “the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not define full-time employment or part-time employment”. Moreover, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics does consider 35 hours a week the legal cutoff for full-time employment for statistical reasons, this isn’t legally binding. With that said, according to the general consensus, 40 hours per week is considered full-time employment; however, some companies do use the 35 hours per week considered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as the cutoff for full-time employment.
So, what is the definition of part-time employment? To summarize, there isn’t a definitive definition, and as such, individual companies determine what they consider to be part-time employment, and it is each company’s definition that’s important. Fortunately, the majority of employers do clearly state – either in the descriptions of the jobs they are looking to fill or on their websites – what they constitute as full-time and part-time employment. With that said, part-time employment can technically be defined as any amount of hours that an employee works that falls below the full-time threshold an employer has set.
Benefits Explained
What exactly are benefits, anyway? If you’re seeking a part-time job that offers benefits, understanding what benefits are is kind of important.
Typically, the term “benefits” refers to any type of non-monetary compensation that an employer provides. Typically, this constitutes access to programs or service options that are considered part of the total compensation package that a company provides. Though companies can determine what their workers as benefits – and pretty much anything can be offered – the following are some of the most common benefits provided:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off for vacation and/or sick time
- Employee discounts
- Retirement accounts
- Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs)
- Paid holidays
- Paid medical leave
- Educational assistance
The above is by no means a comprehensive list of employee benefits, and an employer can decide if they would like to offer one, some, or all of these forms of non-monetary compensation and claim they offer a benefits package. In summary, it is completely up to the employer to determine whether or not they offer a benefits package and what is offered in their benefits packages. It’s important to note that if state law has determined that employers must provide employee benefits, companies are legally required to offer the outlined benefits.
Whether you are seeking full-time or part-time employment, if you are interested in finding out if the companies you are applying with are legally required to offer specific types of benefits, check in with the Department of Labor in your state. Usually, the Department of Labor is responsible for legal requirements that are related to workforces within the state, including employee benefits.
The Top Part-Time Jobs that Offer Employee Benefits
Now that we’ve outlined what benefits are and what is considered part-time employment, let’s take a look at some of the top part-time jobs that offer employee benefits. If you see a company that piques your interests and you’re thinking about applying for a part-time position, be sure to confirm what type of non-monetary compensation the company offers in part-time employee benefits packages, and what they consider part-time employment.
Aerotek
Aerotek is a national recruitment or temp agency that offers their part-time employees benefits packages. Contracted employees who work at least 20 hours a week can qualify for medical, dental, and vision insurance. Part-time employees can qualify for paid time off, too. Discounts at various retailers are also included in Aerotek’s benefits package. The spouses and dependent children of part-time employees are eligible for health insurance through Aerotek, too; therefore, if you’re looking for a part-time gig that provides medical coverage for yourself and/or members of your family, working at least 20 hours a week with this temp agency is certainly worth considering.
Costco
Costco, one of the country’s largest wholesale clubs, also offers their part-time employees benefits packages. Once you have put in 450 hours of work as a part-time employee, you would be eligible for the company’s benefits package, which includes health insurance and basic dental insurance. After you’ve put in 600 hours of part-time employment, you will be eligible for Costco’s full-time benefits package, which includes health and dental insurance, as well as retirement plans, care assistance for dependents, paid time off for maternity leave, and a variety of other types of insurance options.
In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, Costco also offers their part-time employees some pretty awesome perks. For example, the company issues all employees executive memberships, as well as a free Thanksgiving turkey (which, given the rising food costs, can certainly come in handy).
Caribou Coffee
A love of coffee may be incentive enough to want to work for Caribou Coffee; however, the benefits package that the company offers part-time employees certainly sweetens the deal. Part-time baristas and customer service employees with Caribou are eligible for all of the same benefits as their full-time employees. Typically, part-time employees are eligible for benefits once they have been employees for three months, and some of the standard benefits that the company offers in their package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as paid time off and retirement savings plans.
Chipotle
In addition to serving up fresh and tasty Mexican-themed food in a friendly environment, the quick-service restaurant also values their part-time employees, as evidenced by the benefits packages they offer. The company offers a standard benefits program, which provides part-time employees access to an array of options, such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as retirement accounts, education assistance, and paid time off. As if that wasn’t appealing enough to seek part-time employment with Chipotle, all hourly crew members receive a free meal during their daily shifts, which is definitely an added bonus.
Apple
The tech giant Apple offers their part-time workers a pretty decent benefits package. In fact, part-time staff members are eligible for the same health, vision, and dental coverage that the company’s full-time employees have access to. Apple also includes paid time off in their benefits packages, and the qualifications are pretty impressive, too; you only have to be on the payroll for 12 months and work at least 15 hours a week to qualify for the benefits that the tech company provides.
H&M
If you like trendy men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and accessories and you’re seeking a part-time job that offers benefits, consider working with H&M. Full-time and part-time staff members can access the retailer’s benefits package, which includes health, dental, and vision insurance coverage. Their package also offers paid time off, pretty impressive discounts on their products, and a variety of other perks.
Home Depot
Home Depot is another company that is known for offering their part-time employees decent benefits packages. Those who work part-time and are on the company’s payroll for a specific period of time (check with Home Depot for details about the both) are eligible for a pretty decent packages, which includes the basics, such as medical, dental, and vision coverage. It also includes additional benefits, like paid time off, access to professional development opportunities, and even life insurance and short-term disability. You can also receive discounted rates for Home Depot products as a part-time employee.
Lowe’s
Another home improvement warehouse that offers benefits packages to their part-time employees is Lowe’s. The package includes things like limited medical coverage, as well as basic dental and vision coverage. You can set up your financial future, too, as the company’s benefits package allows you to invest in stock purchases and set up a 401(k). After being on the payroll for six months, you can acquire paid time off, too. These are just some of the benefits that Lowe’s offers their part-time employees, and what’s really nice is that you can sign up for these benefits as soon as you start working with the company.
REI
REI, one of the most renowned retailers of outdoor gear, offers a super-employee friendly work environment, which is clearly evidenced by the benefits packages that they offer their part-time workers. Those who work for the company for less than 20 hours a week can access a variety of perks, such as health and dental insurance coverage. The package also includes life and disability insurance plans, as well as incentive pay, and even profit sharing and retirement plan options. Part-time REI workers can also take advantage of tuition reimbursement and pretty decent discounts on any purchases they make with the company.
Trader Joe’s
One of the most popular health food grocery store chains in the country, Trader Joe’s offers a lot more than eclectic, gourmet, and super-tasty foods from all over the world; the company also treats their part-time employees right with benefits packages. Once you meet the company’s eligibility requirements, you will be eligible for the medical, dental, and vision coverage that Trader Joe’s provides for a very reasonable cost. Plus, the company will contribute 10 percent of your annual salary to a pre-tax retirement account, which is definitely an added bonus.
USPS
If you don’t mind manual labor and you like helping out the public and you’re looking for a part-time job that offers good benefits, consider working with United States Postal Services. Part-time employees who work for the United States Postal Service (USPS) are fully eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which includes health, vision, and dental insurance coverage, as well as other perks, such as paid time off, retirement accounts, and much more. Plus, because much of the cost of the benefits program is covered by the USPS, the income you earn will go a whole lot farther.
UPS
A gig with the United Parcel Service (UPS) is a great option to consider if you don’t mind manual labor and you’re looking for part-time employment that includes benefits. Working part-time at one of the UPS distribution centers or driving a route for the company can give you access to a variety of benefits, such as medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as a retirement account and tuition assistance. Part-time employment with UPS would be great for college students or for those who are already working but want to access benefits.
