Part-time & Full-time Employment

Part-time and Full-time Employment

Employees in full-time permanent positions with employers participating in VRS are covered. Some state employees in part-time permanent positions as well as part-time non-adjunct faculty also are covered under VRS. Faculty members who have elected the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) are considered covered employees. VRS leaves the definition of "full-time" and "part-time" to employers according to the following general standards:

The normal workweek for full-time employment is usually considered to be 40 hours a week. Thirty hours is the suggested minimum number of hours for full-time employment.
Full-time permanent employees receive fringe benefits such as annual leave, sick leave, health insurance, life insurance and retirement.
Part-time employment is generally considered to be no more than 80 percent of full-time employment; positions requiring less than 30 hours a week; or positions requiring less than 1,500 hours per year.
Part-time employment also can be temporary work that has a definite start and end date and generally lasts less than 12 months, such as interim or acting positions or work that requires specific services for the duration of a project.
Part-time employees are paid on a wage or hourly basis and do not receive fringe benefits.
VRS-participating employers that define full-time or part-time positions must apply the definitions consistently to all employees and maintain documentation regarding their classifications.