Part-time employment in Canada
 

Refer to my earlier post on PC repair work. I was/am hoping to do that on a part-time basis. The couple of replies to that gave rise to a new question.

What kind of jobs are available on part-time basis? Surely, any job that is offered as part-time is certainly also available/doable on a more full-time basis. Then, why are such jobs available on part-time? And, does part-time mean permanent part-time or temporarily part-time?

To repeat my question, which jobs will these be? Also, is part-time employment easier, if any, to find than a full-time one? :confused:

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

I did hear that certain companies prefer to keep staff on a part time basis as it prevents certain rights and benefits being claimed. Anyone know if this is true?

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Yes, it's certainly true in BC. Positions that were once full-time - when the person leaves - it's made into two part-time positions, one part-time position or in some cases the position is considered redundant. Unless you work a certain number of hours per day per week - no benefits need to be paid for you. Certainly a saving for the company/organization.

Sometimes more than 80% of the budget is taken up with benefits for staff - which doesn't leave the organization much room to maneuver, hence the change in positions. (whether right or wrong - who knows - but in the day and age of govt cut-backs - these things happen.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Yup..sounds like the BC I know and love. Not. My "full time" job is actually a zero hours contract with no benefits and I can be laid off in a minute. It is even unionized, but those of us with under a certain amount of hours in one location can be "bumped" at any time and have NO rights of appeal/grievance. My Union is a paper tiger.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Are you KIDDING me? You belong to a union and have no rights at all - even though you pay union dues every month? Must be CUPE union - can't believe the horror stories I've heard about them.

What is a zero hours contract - I believe you're a social worker (correct?) so just out of interest (since I've never heard it before) how does it work?

Have to LOVE the Liberal govt do't we? How many union contracts have they torn up now?????

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

New workers have to work 1827 hours in post before they qualify to apply (yes you read that correctly - apply) for jobs that give them benefits. These are still not full time equivalent - you are just "permanent" floats (you can be sent anywhere in your region and cannot refuse) as opposed to non permanent. These are still not full time equivalent FTE until the managers approve the roll over after 1827 hours AND if you successfully apply for an FTE post. In theory, you can stay with zero hours (which means that they do not have to give you a weeks work if they don't want to) if operational needs are cut in your area. You can also be returned to non- permanent at any time before you become an FTE. BCGEU sold us out I am afraid. I have no idea why I pay dues, apart from the liability insurance aspect.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Certainly true here. One of the larger employers in Belleville is the sears catalogue distribution warehouse. hundreds work there (>500) , but very very few (<50?) are full time permanent with benefits. My wife was there for a few months, and was laid off and told to reapply in 6 months. They told her she was an excellent worker, but it was policy to keep everyone temporary so as to not have to pay for benefits and holiday pay. There are a lot of cheap employers in canada.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

And, the individual? He continues to pay tax, EI, and whatever? What does he get out of the job - canadian experience??? :rolleyes:

To repeat my earlier question, what jobs are these? Computer programmers, CEOs, Accountants, Lawyers, typists, cashiers, burger tossers, delivery boys? Certainly, there will be jobs which will never be part-time, those which will be both full-time and part-time, and those that will only be available part-time.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I guess there is a difference between permanent part-time and temporary full-time. :confused: I mean there could be some part-time jobs which one could continue to do for months together (3 hr. daily?). And then, there could be jobs which one would be supposed to do 9-5 (or 8-4) but these would be for a few months at one go. Do I understand the Canadian job system correctly? My idea was to combine two of these at any one point of time - do a 9-5 (whether temp or permanent) and do an evening part-time (again, whether for a few months or for ages). Is it possible to do this?

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

The system in BC anyway is designed to avoid full time employment at all costs. Many jobs that would *always* be full time in the UK - like fire fighters and ambulance crews are part time, temporary and the all time fave "on-call" which is a euphemism for stay by the phone and be prepared to take any crappy shift that we offer at any time. You can work two jobs - but tax wise it is likely not worth it to combine a 40 hr week with another part time job. Most part time jobs require you to be available for all shifts anyway, and if you are already working during the day....well you get the picture. These jobs are right across the employment board, with the exception of CEO type positions and those considered highly professionalised. Even nurses have to take part time on-call hours for years until they get enough seniority. The system sucks and there are far less effective labour laws here compared to the UK. The employers can pretty much do as they please because there is always someone waiting in the wings for your job.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Well, that explains why it's next to impossible to find someone in our newly renovated Sears store in Victoria. I usually have to "hunt someone down" either to purchase something or ask a questions about a product......and then of course the person you find....isn't in that dept so theyare no help to you, or have other customers waiting to be served!!!

Very annoying for the consumer.....Sears spends millions on advertising....and yet make it so difficult for the customer!!!! Makes no logical sense to me.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

My example was for the huge distribution warehouse for the catalogue. Many of the staff at my local sears store seem to have been there for ever, and know their stuff.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Yep the Felxible firm Theory of a guy named John Atkinson is in full force in Canada.

Alot of firms hire people and then have a seasonal lay off period ( factory shut down) which stops them from being classed as fulltime, people go on IE not much at all.

But the major jobs that this happen in are minimum wage or their abouts as skilled workers you should be in a different category and not experience this.

But if you have a black market skill Pc/Car's/Building/Gardening skills opportunity for self employment are huge.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

You mean earning money on the side?

There are a lot of people who want PC work done on the cheap - the money they're willing to pay isn't enough to sustain a PC business - not if you want to pay for exams at $150 each.

I'm assuming that you're not encouraging new immigrants to evade taxes??

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Well, you are one lucky man - my husband/I got so....frustrated about the lack of staff at our Sears - we took alot of our business elsewhere and wrote a letter to headoffice about the inadequacy of staff (not the staff be inadequate) but the lack of staff in the store.

Of course we never got an answer.

Re: Part-time employment in Canada
 

Come on....not even you are that naive??? Wasn't it you that equated an Escort service to prostitution?? and here I didn't think that happened at Escort Services.

There are alot of jobs in Canada where people are paid "under the table" so to speak - I know people who work part-time and have a gardening job on the side - the money is never reported. How do you think delivery people (pizza, newspaper carriers, etc) are paid? I don't know for sure, but I also think you have to earn a certain amount of money and be 18 before it needs to be reported.

I also know a guy who works for a certain computer store (which will remain unnamed) and works on the side repairing MACs'. Apparently, he is very good - needs the extra money to help feed and clothe his family.

All in the name of living in a democratic society!!!