Social care employers value part-time workers

Social care employers are better than many other sectors in
their treatment of part-time workers, public sector union Unison
believes.

Owen Davies, national officer for local government at Unison, said
most social care employers recognised that part-time workers, most
of whom are women, are a key element in care service
provision.

It follows a report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission
showing many part-timers are underpaid, their skills are not fully
used and they are rarely offered promotion.

“Good social services employers understand that part-time workers
can form the backbone of a flexible and responsive service,” said
Davies.

“Some social services departments have brought in flexible working
arrangements allowing people with other responsibilities, such as
child care, to fit their job around these.

“Others are less forward-looking and we occasionally hear from
women who feel discriminated against.”

• Part Time Is No Crime – So Why the Penalty? from:
  www.eoc.org.uk