What’s the latest news from the Part Time HR market?

So we have arrived in December and, looking back over the last few months from Oakleaf’s perspective, the part time HR market space has seen a steady pattern of junior and mid-level HR generalist roles across all sectors. It has been quieter on the senior generalist front, but we have placed a number of Head of HR roles recently and we hope that activity in this area will return in January.  Payroll continues to provide a steady stream of part time opportunities across all sectors also. Taking a look at company size we have hired for, the trend has definitely shown an increase in the smaller firms (sub 75 employees) hiring their first or second HR professional on a part time basis. We have seen a definite spike in interim opportunities and this might be driven by market forces, uncertainty over the Brexit divorce outcome, budget spending and commitment in general.

We have hosted and been involved in a number of well-attended lively networking events – a lunch event in November for over 50 part time candidates and a superb breakfast round table discussion at the end of November that we co-hosted with M&S. Our speakers at the event were the Head of Reward job share partnership of Melanie Ramsey & Joanne Rees (who we recruited to the role in July). M&S are a fantastic example of an employer who really maximise their resourcing opportunities and people structure around part time talent, now employing more part time workers than full time. M&S have also been our largest client in 2017 in terms of placements made – let’s see who else follows their lead in 2018!

Job sharing is definitely a “hot” topic and we regularly discuss this with our candidates, clients and colleagues at Oakleaf. We are looking at ways in which our access and contact with over 2000 active part time candidates can be used to greatest benefit people; watch this space for news on workshops, focus groups and more round table discussions in 2018.

Calling all CIPD members – Harriet and Jane will be speaking at a CIPD event for CIPD members on 24th January in Weybridge, Surrey talking about the challenges of finding flexible working arrangements in HR titled “The “F” word” – do come along if you are a CIPD member and are free – click here for the link.

As we approach Christmas we hope that you feel we are trying our hardest to keep you updated with our work in the part time HR space, and hope that 2018 brings many more flexible opportunities for us to talk to you about!

Festive wishes and continued positive times ahead for the Part time HR movement !

Jane & Harriet

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