Brianna DeWitt, a 35-year-old physical therapist living in Oahu, Hawaii, has found herself navigating a challenging landscape of career and parenthood since the birth of her first child in 2023. With a passion for her job that stems from years of intensive medical training, DeWitt feels a rush of fulfillment every morning as she engages with patients at the hospital. She was determined to find a way to maintain her professional life while embracing her new role as a mother.

Initially, DeWitt opted for part-time work, believing it would provide the ideal balance between career satisfaction and the precious time she wanted to spend with her son, all while reducing the strain of childcare costs. However, she soon discovered that cutting her hours below full time had significant repercussions, particularly regarding her family's healthcare coverage and eligibility for employer-matched 401(k) plans.

My husband was self-employed, DeWitt explained. So I was trying to hold down the fort as far as our health insurance benefits went. To ensure stable coverage, her husband recently transitioned to a corporate job, allowing DeWitt to maintain a split schedule that accommodates both her professional and parenting responsibilities. That was really important to us, she emphasized.

DeWitt's predicament is not unique; it echoes the experiences of many parents and caregivers across the United States. Unlike several other developed nations, the U.S. lacks robust legal protections for part-time workers. In particular, those working fewer than 30 to 34 hours a week often find themselves at the mercy of their employers policies. For many millennials who are starting families, transitioning to part-time work can seem like an appealing solution that allows them to juggle career aspirations and family responsibilities. However, for the majority of American workers, moving to part-time positions can entail the loss of vital benefits like healthcare, paid leave, and fair increases in pay.

Laura Narefsky, a senior attorney at the National Women's Law Center, highlighted the disparity that exists even among employees with the same qualifications and roles in the same organization. It could be the same position, the same qualifications, but you have one worker working full time and one worker working part time, and they are given different access to benefits, eligibility for promotions, or even paid differently based on hourly wages, she stated.

As the job market shows signs of cooling and companies seek to retain valuable staff, experts suggest that enhancing flexibility for workers who wish to reduce their hours could be a mutually beneficial strategy. By accommodating part-time schedules, businesses could not only retain experienced talent but also save on hiring costs. Current estimates indicate that nearly 3 million part-time workers are parents of children under the age of six. Creating a more flexible job market would not only benefit individual families but could also stimulate overall economic growth.

According to recent statistics, over 29 million individuals in the U.S. work part-time, representing approximately 18% of the country's total labor force. The motivations behind choosing part-time work are varied: some individuals are parents or caregivers, while others are students or retirees trying to balance multiple obligations. However, what all these part-time workers share is a glaring absence of federal protections.

Employees working full-time in the U.S. are guaranteed certain basic rights, such as paid leave and access to company benefits. In stark contrast, those who work fewer than 30 hours a week do not enjoy the same safeguards. Many report experiencing unpredictable schedules and financial instability. Research from the Economic Policy Institute indicates that part-time workers earn nearly 20% less per hour compared to their full-time peers in similar roles. This pay gap does not account for the significant losses incurred due to lack of access to crucial benefits.

Julie Gagne, a 63-year-old who juggles part-time and gig jobs while caring for her ex-husband, who is quadriplegic, has felt the weight of these financial constraints. Working as a delivery driver in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Gagne often earns less than $20 an hour, which barely covers her essential expenses. Candidly, I have not had health insurance in a very, very long time, she shared, expressing concern over the potential financial ruin that could follow a catastrophic health issue.

This economic uncertainty is particularly acute for parents, exacerbated by skyrocketing childcare costs that have outpaced salaries in numerous cities. This predicament disproportionately affects mothers, as noted by Deborah Singer, the chief marketing officer at the advocacy and research organization Moms First. Singer pointed out that women are more likely than men to reduce their working hours or exit the workforce entirely. Approximately 60% of part-time employees are women, and the long-term repercussions of working fewer hours can be dire.

Thats not just a penalty that women are going to pay when their child is young, Singer explained. Thats going to impact their entire career, their retirement savings, and our economy more broadly. Access to flexible work schedules without the threat of significant financial loss could profoundly change the landscape for millennial parents, allowing them to remain engaged in their careers while raising young children. Yet, many are currently faced with an impossible choice between financial stability and family time.

Jessica Cuevas, a 35-year-old living in Chicago, articulated this struggle poignantly: I became a mom, and as much as I wanted to be there for my family, I also didnt want to lose myself. After the birth of her first child, Cuevas made the decision to transition from a full-time role in college admissions and education policy to a part-time position as a college counselor for a nonprofit, all in an effort to save on childcare expenses. Though this move has allowed her to stay in the field she loves, she lamented the loss of her employer's healthcare and retirement benefits. Im very frustrated with companies and employers for putting the load directly on mom, she said, reflecting on the challenges of navigating parenthood without adequate support while still hoping to grow her career.

The absence of protections for part-time workers in the U.S. starkly contrasts with many peer nations, including the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, and Spain. In the Netherlands, part-time workers are entitled to the same access to benefits, paid time off, and pension contributions as their full-time counterparts. The failure to extend these rights to part-time workers in the United States not only burdens individuals but also hampers overall economic growth. According to economist Kathryn Anne Edwards, enhancing rights for part-time employees could significantly strengthen the American labor force. Our labor market is much meaner and exclusive than people realize, Edwards asserted, noting the high costs of exclusion on national economic participation.

For context, as of 2023, the labor-force participation rate in the Netherlands stood at 73%, with men slightly ahead at 76% compared to women at 68%. In contrast, the U.S. labor-force participation rate was only 62.5%, highlighting a significant gap, particularly between genders, with men at 68.2% and women at 57.3%. A thriving workforce is often associated with increased consumer spending and a more dynamic labor market.

Edwards believes that the U.S. labor market requires a significant transformation or glow-up. However, the likelihood of federal legislation aimed at protecting part-time employees, such as the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights proposed in the House in 2023, appears slim at best.

Nevertheless, individual companies can make strides to safeguard part-time workers rights without waiting for government intervention. For example, UPS provides pensions and healthcare coverage for part-time employees, while Trader Joe's offers medical, dental, and vision benefits to most of its part-time staff, along with access to a 401(k). Beyond being a moral obligation, these practices can also yield tangible benefits for companies. A report from the research firm Gusto indicated that part-time workers who receive healthcare benefits have an average job tenure of 39 months, compared to just 23 months for those without any benefits.

Starbucks has also made recent moves to enhance benefits for part-time employees, offering tuition reimbursement, parental leave for part-timers working over 20 hours a week, and healthcare coverage. A company spokesperson noted that most baristas work part-time and that their employee retention is at its highest level post-pandemic, attributing this success to their comprehensive benefits policies. Jamie-Lee Kapana, a 33-year-old barista in Oahu, shared how the benefits provided by Starbucks have made a significant difference for her and her family, allowing her to work just 20 hours a week while still receiving essential healthcare and benefits.

As part-time work gains traction in more white-collar sectors, a June report from Indeed revealed that part-time job postings in industries such as beauty, wellness, marketing, and communications surged by up to 27% between 2022 and 2024. However, higher-paying sectors like insurance, law, and finance continue to be largely dominated by full-time roles.

Ultimately, creating a more inclusive workforce is advantageous for both employees and employers alike. By providing opportunities for part-time work, companies can retain valuable talent while helping parents maintain a healthy work-life balance. As Edwards succinctly put it, more workers equals a bigger economy, full stop.

Allie Kelly is a reporter on Business Insider's Economy team, where she covers social safety nets and the impacts of policy on everyday lives.