Part-time workers hardest hit by pandemic with fears of ‘clock rolling back’ on equality

PART-TIME workers have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus crisis, with half being furloughed or having their hours cut compared to one in three fulltimers, a new study suggests.

An analysis of official figures for campaign group Timewise indicated that full-time employees began to return to their normal hours last year in greater proportions to part-time employees.

The report said the furlough scheme has kept millions of employees in work but was “masking” significant challenges, especially for those who work less than 35 hours a week.

“Since early on in the pandemic, it has been clear that people working in part-time roles have borne the brunt of UK job losses, furlough and further reduction in working hours,” said the report.

Women, ethnic minority groups and younger people have suffered the most in the pandemic, many in part-time jobs, said Timewise.

Although the number of fulltimers on furlough is high, it is significantly less as a proportion of the workforce compared to parttimers, said Timewise.

Timewise’s director of development Emma Stewart said: “With the furlough scheme set to end in September, part-time employees feel they are clinging on to jobs that will soon disappear and cannot find part-time jobs to apply for.

“We need a jobs recovery that is inclusive of people who need to work less, not just remotely.

“This is vital to prevent the clock rolling back on gender equality.”

Tony Wilson of the Institute for Employment Studies, which studied data from the Labour Force

Survey for the report, said: “The signs are that far from heralding a new era of flexible working, this recovery may see far fewer people getting the hours and the flexibility that they need.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We have reconvened the Flexible Working Taskforce to properly understand the changes in ways of working that are emerging as a result of the pandemic.

“We are also taking forward plans to consult on making flexible work the default, unless employers have good reasons not to.”