2  Quick Q&A’s

 I often get asked questions that can be answered quickly and don’t necessarily justify a full column, yet are situations that many others might be curious about.  So I’m starting an occasional segment called 2  Quick Q&A’s.  A “twofer” if you will.  Here we go:

Q1: We’re revising our employee handbook and want to change the definition of part-time from working 30 hrs to working 32 hrs, because it’s easier for scheduling.  Do you see a problem?

A1: Nope.

Although for statistical purposes the Bureau of Labor Statistics defines part time as between 1-34 hrs, it’s up to an employer to determine how they define what it means to be PT in their own organization.

In the real world,  I’ve seen ranges as low as 15 hrs and as high as 39 hrs.

After you define them, then you can decide if part-timers get some benefits (usually prorated holidays or some other perks).

There is one caveat.  For the purposes of t the Affordable Care Act an employee is considered full time if they work and average of 30 hrs.  This can be a big deal if your company is close to the 50 employee threshold, so be aware.

Q2:  I have an unpaid intern who will be getting school credit for working with us for about 10 weeks.  Is there anything else I should be doing to avoid problems with the DOL?  Other tips?

A2:  As long as the school is taking care of the paperwork and you complete what they send you (usually an evaluation toward the end of the internship) you should be fine.

In terms of managing an unpaid intern, I think the most helpful way to think about them is to consider them volunteers.  That means that even though they don’t have the rights employees have (minimum wage, unemployment insurance; worker’s compensation, etc.) you still want them to be motivated and productive.  So take time to provide training about your business, your customers; give them performance expectations, and –this is the important part– give them feedback about how they’re doing.  Then be the best mentor you can be.

Readers, how do you like seeing this occasional quick question quick response format ?  Feedback is welcome.

©Copyright Eva Del Rio

Eva Del Rio is creator of HR Box™ – tools for small businesses and startups. Send questions to Eva@evadelrio.com