Working Life > Modes of Working > Job Sharing

Job Sharing: a Part Time Work Scheme

Definition, Explanation

Job sharing is one form of part time work: several employees share one job. The most frequent form of sharing is two people each having a half-day job. Another one is 3 people on 2 jobs. Workers can have flexible working times by coordination.

Women use job sharing part time work for being able to better balance work and family. Also doctors use it as an alternative to substitution. It is also feasible for executives, although rarely practised.

Tips, Checklist

• Have the conditions of your employment regulated exactly in the contract, including general splitting of working hours, weekly and monthly changes and mutual substitution. There exists no legal relationship among the job-sharers
• Planned working hours have to be announced in time to the employer
• The splitting of working hours is agreed among the job-sharers. If no agreement can be achieved, the employer makes up a splitting
• That the agreed working hours and work amount are fulfilled is every workers own responsibility. Job sharers are not liable for the other's neglects. In cases of illness, nobody has any duty to work substitute
• In a case in which it is strongly required for operational reasons, the job-sharers' duty to substitute one another can be especially agreed. However, any general all-embracing agreement regarding that is invalid
• Cancellation of one of the job sharers must not affect the others. Rather, what applies is a ban on partner-conditioned cancelling. In case no substitute worker is found for the cancelled one, the other job sharers must be offered respective working hours extensions
• Dismissal protection is the same as for regular employees
• Vacation entitlement is proportional to the ratio of full time / part time hours
• Entitlement to income, also, is defined proportional to working hours

Last update: 06/18/2010