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Job-sharing programs

Evidence Rating
Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Disparity Rating
No impact on disparities likely
Community Conditions
Income, employment and wealth
Societal Rules
Institutional practices
Authors
Lead: Jessica Rubenstein
Contributor(s): Alison Bergum
Acknowledgements: Kiersten Frobom
Date Last Updated
November 5, 2018

Job-sharing is a flexible work arrangement in which a single full-time position is split between two part-time employees, and each part-time employee retains the rights and privileges of the full-time position. Employees receive the same benefits as a full-time employee, proportional to their hours worked. Such arrangements are generally initiated at the request of employees (Roche 1996).

What could this strategy improve?

Expected Benefits

Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:

  • Improved employee retention
  • Improved work-life balance

What does the research say about effectiveness? -+

There is insufficient evidence to determine whether job-sharing increases retention or work-life balance. Available evidence suggests that job-sharing programs may increase productivity and reduce turnover and absenteeism (Roche 1996). Job sharing may support work-life balance for women and older employees (Watton 2016, Griffin 2014, Roche 1996), and is a suggested strategy to allow older workers to transition from full-time to part-time employment without retiring (Urban-Eyster 2008). However, additional evidence is needed to determine effects.

Implementation Examples -+

Job-sharing is an option for many federal employees (US OPM-Job sharing).

Citations -+

* Journal subscription may be required for access.

Griffin 2014 - Griffin B, Vest K, Pohl S, Mazan J, Winkler S. Part-time and job-share careers among pharmacy practice faculty members. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2014;78(3),1-6

Roche 1996* - Roche WK, Fynes B, Morrissey T. Working time and employment: A review of international evidence. International Labour Review. 1996;135(2):129-57.

Urban-Eyster 2008 - Eyster L, Johnson RW, Toder E. Current strategies to employ and retain older workers. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute; 2008.

US OPM-Job sharing - United States Office of Personnel Management (U.S. OPM). Hiring information: part-time & job sharing.

Watton 2016 - Watton E, Stables S. The benefits of job sharing: a practice-based case study. In Flynn PM, Haynes K, Kilgour MA, eds., Overcoming challenges to gender equality in the workplace: leadership and innovation. Greenleaf Publishing; 2016:66-77.