Working Part-time: the policies and the options, here and elsewhere Women’s Forum February 18, 2004 Working Part-time: the policies and the options, here and elsewhere

The Issue Some researchers would like to have the option to work part-time, due to health or family reasons. This is presently not possible at LDEO. Researchers should be able to work part-time as long as they bring in the grant money to cover their salary and have benefits – prorated for the percentage of full time being worked. They should also be able to extend the time limits between promotions prorated on the percentage worked. Stop the clock and slow the clock. There is presently an option to stop the clock up to two times for a year

WHOI Policy An employee can decide to work part-time with the support of his/her supervisor and request in writing to be officially part-time. (I don't know of any scientific staff who are less than 3/4 time, though officially they can be). All Regular employees are eligible for all Institution benefits. Paid time-off is prorated for Regular three-quarter time employees and half-time employees.

WHOI Policy WHOI funds a pension plan to provide you with continued income at retirement, based on years of service at the Institution. You are fully vested in the plan after working 1,000 hours in each calendar year for three years (Vesting means you have a right to the benefit you have earned, even if you leave WHOI before retirement.

WHOI Policy If you are a regular employee and work at least 40 hours per pay period (excluding overtime), you are eligible for a subsidy for certain dependent care expenses. The subsidy is intended to help enable you to work.  The subsidy is $1.00 per day care hour per dependent that the employee and spouse (if married) work, up to an annual maximum of $2,000 per dependent. Benefits are paid to you in the last paycheck of the month. The expenses must be for the care of dependent children under age 13 or a legal dependent of any age, such as a parent who lives with you and is unable to care for himself or herself.

WHOI Policy Note, 1000 hours/year is about half time, 40 hours per pay period is half time. One must be at least ½ time to get medical and dental benefits. Vacation accrues at the rate at which you work, but you can only take it at your official work hours Another useful benefit easily used up by parents is 5 days a year which can be used to care for a sick dependent. .

WHOI Policy You can have up to 1 extra year between the promotion steps. So 5 instead of the usual 4. This also appears to be done on occasion for other reasons. One person told me that even though she works full time, she was asked if she would like to extend the time between promotions on tenure track because she has a family.

Yale Policy Persons holding the ranks of associate research scientist/scholar, research scientist/scholar, or senior research scientist/scholar are considered to be research faculty. In most cases, they are employees of the University and if employed at least half-time receive fringe benefits and are eligible for membership in the Yale University Retirement Annuity Plan.

Others Univ. of California System – does have a part-time option