Best examples of part-time employment agreement examples for 2025

Real-world examples of part-time employment agreement examples

Before talking about theory, let’s start with the kinds of real examples you’re likely to see in practice. When people ask for examples of part-time employment agreement examples, they’re usually looking for language they can adapt to:

• A college student working 20 hours a week in retail.
• A remote marketing specialist working three days a week.
• A nurse picking up regular weekend shifts.
• A semi-retired engineer on a fixed weekly schedule.

All of those are technically part-time, but the agreement language changes depending on hours, benefits, and how stable the schedule is. The best examples are clear about four things: status, hours, pay, and benefits.

Example of a basic part-time employment agreement (retail, hourly)

This is the most common scenario: an hourly, non-exempt worker in a store, restaurant, or similar job.

Sample clause – Position and status
“Employer hires Employee as a Part-Time Sales Associate. Employee is a part-time, non-exempt employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state law. Nothing in this Agreement creates a guarantee of continued employment for any specific duration.”

Why this matters in 2025:
With ongoing enforcement of wage and hour laws in the U.S., clearly labeling the worker as non-exempt helps avoid misclassification issues. The U.S. Department of Labor’s FLSA guidance is still the baseline reference for overtime and minimum wage rules (dol.gov).

Sample clause – Hours and schedule
“Employee is expected to work an average of 15–25 hours per week. Employer may adjust the schedule based on business needs, provided that Employer will provide the notice required by applicable scheduling and predictive scheduling laws.”

This kind of language shows up again and again in examples of part-time employment agreement examples because it sets a range, not a fixed guarantee. In cities with predictive scheduling rules (for example, some U.S. cities regulate advance notice for retail and fast-food schedules), you’ll want to reference those laws explicitly.

Sample clause – Pay and overtime
“Employee will be paid $18.50 per hour, less applicable taxes and withholdings, on a biweekly basis. Employee will be paid overtime for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, or over any lower threshold required by applicable state law, at one and one-half times the regular rate of pay.”

This is a clean, legally grounded example of how to handle pay in a part-time agreement.

Hybrid and remote: examples of part-time employment agreement examples for knowledge workers

The pandemic normalized remote and hybrid work, and that trend has stuck into 2024–2025. Many of the best examples of part-time employment agreement examples now cover hybrid arrangements for professionals like marketers, analysts, and designers.

Sample clause – Hybrid schedule
“Employee will work three (3) days per week, typically Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for an expected total of 24 hours per week. Employee will perform duties remotely on two (2) days and on-site at Employer’s office on one (1) day, unless otherwise agreed in writing.”

Sample clause – Equipment and data security
“Employer will provide a laptop computer and necessary software. Employee agrees to follow Employer’s data security and confidentiality policies, including use of secure networks and password protection for all work-related devices.”

These real examples reflect how agreements have evolved. Before 2020, many part-time contracts barely mentioned remote work. In 2025, omitting data security and remote-work expectations is a red flag.

For guidance on remote work security policies, many employers look to frameworks and best practices from organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (nist.gov) and, for health-related data, HIPAA guidance from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (hhs.gov).

Examples include variable-hours and “as-needed” part-time agreements

Another category of examples of part-time employment agreement examples involves on-call or variable-hour roles. Think event staff, substitute teachers, or per diem healthcare workers.

Sample clause – Variable hours / no guaranteed minimum
“Employee is hired as a part-time, variable-hours employee. Employer does not guarantee a minimum number of hours per week. Employee will be scheduled based on business needs and Employee’s availability.”

Sample clause – Shift acceptance
“Employer will notify Employee of available shifts by email or scheduling software. Employee may accept or decline shifts, subject to Employer’s policies. Acceptance of a shift constitutes Employee’s commitment to work that shift except in cases of emergency or as otherwise required by law.”

This sort of language appears in many real examples used by staffing agencies and event companies. However, in some jurisdictions, repeatedly scheduling a worker at near-full-time hours while labeling them “as-needed” can cause legal headaches, especially around benefits eligibility and misclassification.

To understand how part-time status interacts with benefits, employers often reference guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on the Affordable Care Act’s employer shared responsibility rules (dol.gov/ebsa).

Healthcare and education: example of a part-time professional agreement

In healthcare and education, part-time roles are common but more regulated. Here’s an example of language used for a part-time nurse or adjunct instructor.

Sample clause – Professional licensure (healthcare)
“Employee represents that Employee holds a current, valid nursing license in the State of [State], and will maintain such licensure throughout employment. Employee will promptly notify Employer of any investigation, suspension, or revocation of such license.”

Sample clause – Professional role (education)
“Employee is hired as a Part-Time Adjunct Instructor to teach [Course Name] during the [Term] semester. This Agreement covers only the course(s) and term specified. Future teaching assignments are not guaranteed.”

Sample clause – Clinical / classroom hours
“Employee is expected to work an average of 16–20 hours per week, including clinical time, preparation, grading, and required meetings, unless otherwise agreed in writing.”

Universities and hospitals often publish policy frameworks that inform these agreements. For example, many U.S. universities outline adjunct and part-time policies on their HR sites; a reference point for academic employment policies and research is the American Association of University Professors (aaup.org).

Project-based: examples of part-time employment agreement examples that avoid misclassification

Project-based work can easily slide into independent contractor territory if the agreement isn’t drafted carefully. Employers who want an employee (with taxes withheld and benefits options) but only need part-time help need clear language.

Sample clause – Employee vs. contractor clarification
“Employee is an employee of Employer and not an independent contractor. Employer will withhold applicable payroll taxes and may offer benefits as described in this Agreement and Employer’s policies. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create an independent contractor relationship.”

Sample clause – Project focus and hours
“Employee is hired on a part-time basis to support the [Project Name] initiative. Employee is expected to work approximately 20 hours per week for the duration of the project. The parties anticipate a project duration of six (6) months; however, employment remains at-will and may be terminated by either party in accordance with this Agreement.”

Real examples like this show how to keep the relationship squarely in the employee category, even when the work is project-driven. In the U.S., the IRS publishes guidance on the distinction between employees and independent contractors, which many employers consult when drafting agreements (irs.gov).

Benefits and leave: examples include pro-rated PTO and health coverage

Benefits are where many part-time agreements fall apart. Some of the best examples of part-time employment agreement examples are very explicit about what is and is not included.

Sample clause – Pro-rated paid time off (PTO)
“Employee is eligible for paid time off on a pro-rated basis. Full-time employees earn 120 hours of PTO per year. Because Employee is scheduled to work 20 hours per week (50% of full-time), Employee will accrue PTO at 50% of the full-time rate, or 60 hours per year, subject to Employer’s PTO policy.”

Sample clause – Health insurance eligibility
“Eligibility for health insurance and other benefits is determined by Employer’s benefit plan documents and applicable law. Employee understands that working fewer than 30 hours per week on average may affect eligibility for certain benefits, including health insurance coverage.”

Employers often align this language with Affordable Care Act thresholds for large employers, where 30 hours per week is a common benchmark for full-time status for health coverage purposes (see the U.S. Department of Labor and IRS ACA resources noted above).

Sample clause – Unpaid leave and local law
“Employee may be eligible for unpaid medical or family leave, or paid sick leave, as provided by applicable federal, state, or local law and Employer policy. Nothing in this Agreement reduces any right Employee may have under applicable law.”

For U.S. readers, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is explained in detail by the U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla). Many part-time employees won’t meet FMLA eligibility thresholds, but the agreement should still acknowledge legal protections where they apply.

2024–2025 trends shaping part-time employment agreements

When you look across real examples of part-time employment agreement examples in 2024–2025, a few themes show up repeatedly:

More hybrid and remote language
Even for part-time roles, employers now specify home-office expectations, data security, time-tracking software, and reimbursement for certain remote-work expenses.

Clearer scheduling and notice
Predictive scheduling and “fair workweek” laws in parts of the U.S. and abroad are pushing employers to spell out how much notice workers get for schedule changes, and whether there is extra pay for last-minute changes.

Greater transparency on pay and benefits
Pay transparency laws in multiple U.S. states and cities are leading to agreements that explicitly state pay ranges and clarify when part-time workers become eligible for health, retirement, or bonus plans.

Wellness and mental health references
Some employers now include references to employee assistance programs (EAPs) or mental health resources, even for part-time staff. For credible information on workplace mental health and stress, many HR teams reference research from organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov).

Putting it together: how to adapt these examples safely

All of these examples of part-time employment agreement examples are starting points, not plug‑and‑play solutions. To adapt them:

• Match the agreement to the job reality. If you say “variable hours, no guarantee,” but in practice you schedule someone 35 hours every week, a court may see them as effectively full-time.
• Align with local law. A part-time agreement in California, New York, or the UK may need entirely different language on breaks, paid sick leave, and notice requirements.
• Keep policies and the agreement consistent. If your handbook says part-time staff get PTO after 90 days, but the agreement says 6 months, you’re inviting disputes.
• Use plain English. The best examples are understandable by a 10th grader. If your part-time employee can’t explain their own agreement, that’s a problem.

Whenever you’re unsure, it’s smart to have a local employment attorney review your draft. Templates and real examples are helpful, but they don’t replace qualified legal advice.

FAQ: examples of part-time employment agreement examples

Q1. Can you give a short example of a part-time employment clause for hours and pay?
Yes. Here’s a concise example of a standard clause:

“Employee is a part-time, non-exempt employee expected to work approximately 20 hours per week. Employee will be paid $22.00 per hour, less applicable withholdings, and will be eligible for overtime in accordance with applicable law.”

That single paragraph appears, with minor changes, in many real examples of part-time employment agreement examples across retail, hospitality, and office roles.

Q2. What are common examples of benefits language for part-time employees?
Common examples include pro-rated PTO, clear statements that certain benefits (like health insurance or retirement plans) may require a minimum number of hours, and references to the official plan documents. A typical sentence looks like this:

“Eligibility for benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, is governed by the applicable plan documents, which may require a minimum average number of hours worked per week.”

Q3. Is an at-will clause still used in part-time agreements?
In the U.S., yes. Most part-time employment agreements for private employers include an at‑will clause, unless the job is in a jurisdiction or sector where at‑will employment is restricted. The language usually mirrors full-time agreements and clarifies that nothing in the agreement changes the at‑will nature of the relationship.

Q4. How are schedules handled in the best examples of part-time employment agreement examples?
The strongest examples balance flexibility with clarity. They typically specify an expected range of weekly hours, the usual days or shifts, how much advance notice will be given for schedule changes, and whether there is any guaranteed minimum. For variable-hour roles, the agreement often states that hours may fluctuate and that no specific number of hours is promised.

Q5. Where can I find more authoritative guidance on part-time employment rules?
For U.S. readers, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd) is a key source on minimum wage, overtime, and leave rules. For academic or policy research on labor trends, university resources and labor research centers (for example, those linked through major universities like Harvard’s labor and worklife programs at harvard.edu) are also useful.

These examples of part-time employment agreement examples should give you a practical template for structuring your own documents, whether you’re drafting for a small business, a nonprofit, or a large organization. Just remember: adjust for your jurisdiction, your industry, and the actual way you intend to schedule and pay your part-time staff.