9 Pitfalls of Part-Time Employment

After a job loss of full-time employment two years ago, I've taken a lot of part-time side gigs to make ends meet. Lyft driver, blackjack dealer, UPS delivery, and cashier for soccer concession stands. If you've ever worked part-time, you know the gratitude for the work and the frustration with the systems that drive that work. Where I'm from, you take pride in the work, regardless of what it is or how much you're paid. I've managed people and strategy as an executive leader for large companies and I've been a mint truck driver and the snowphone girl. Here are a few examples of pitfalls of part-time employment and the downstream affects to not just your livelihood, but your life.

1. Lack of consistent schedule. Part-time employers aren't required to give you a specific number of hours. Nor are they required to make that schedule consistent.

2. Difficulties juggling multiple employers or gigs. Many employers, particularly in hospitality and food service, need more hours on the weekend. You might commit to one employer for weekend hours (that they're not required to schedule you for) and be unable to commit to another employer on those high-value weekend shifts.

3. Seasonality. Some part-time employment is limited to a particular season.

4. Difficulties of monthly budgeting. Giving every dollar a job, understanding your true expenses, and rolling with the punches are appropriate strategies for money planning and management, but the clarity that comes from managing a specific amount of money is illusive when your income can vary a great deal month-to-month.

5. Healthcare insurance. Part-time work rarely comes with benefits like health insurance.

6. Inability to commit to long term plans. Typically, if you're part-time employed you'll get your schedule two weeks at a time. It's difficult to plan family visits, concerts, and other longer term commitments.

7. Resume consistency. The inconsistent nature of part-time and gig work begins to look like a cycle of short-term commitments to work which can be undesirable to employers.

8. Complexity of tax filing. It's just a part of life, but the W2 and 1099 of it all is messy.

9. Anxiety of the unknown. We're hardwired to categorize and plan for our security, safety, and well-being. The lack of dependability due to an inconsistent schedule can be daunting to your well-being. It all begins to feel like a gamble that the house always wins.