Job Sharing
A job share arrangement is a full-time job split between two individuals, each with responsibility for
the success of the total job. Job sharing allows two staff members to share the responsibilities of one full-time
position, typically with prorated salary and paid time off. Creative and innovative schedules can be designed
to meet the needs of the job sharers and the department. Job-sharing arrangements can be 50/50, 60/40 or any
similar combination. The schedules may also overlap as needed or desired.
Successful job sharing arrangements usually place responsibility for a functional arrangement on the individuals
sharing the job (job partners) rather than the supervisor. Both job partners should agree up front that if one
of the job partners is not meeting the needs of the organization or decides to leave the job, the other will
revert to a full-time schedule, permanently or until a replacement job partner is found within a reasonable time
frame. If a new job partner cannot be found and the remaining job partner does not want a full-time job, he/she
will agree to resign from the job to be replaced by a full-time employee. This is considered a voluntary resignation
and does not qualify the individual for position discontinuation and staff transition benefits.
Advantages and Challenges
| Job sharing partners can provide
more consistent service to internal and external clients than two part-time
staff members. |
It may be a challenge for a
staff member who is interested in job sharing to find a job sharing partner with
whom they are personally and professionally compatible. |
| Job sharing partners can fill in
for one another during scheduled and unscheduled absences. |
Job sharing partners may find it
challenging to maintain the constant communication required to keep one another
informed about scheduling (meetings, training, travel, etc.) and status of
shared work. |
| Two heads are better than one.
The job sharing partners' clients, supervisor and co-workers, and the partners
themselves, can benefit from the varied perspectives, strengths, and skills each
job sharing partner brings to the job. |
A work unit may find it
difficult to fund a job sharing arrangement. |
| Staff members in job sharing
arrangements have more time outside of work to take care of personal
responsibilities; as a result they can be more focused on the tasks at hand
during their scheduled work time. |
May decrease the potential for
advancement. |
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