Shared-time work is a simple formula: it allows professionals to work part-time for several companies at the same time. But in practice, how does it work and why does everyone benefit?
The latest edition of the Timeshare Barometer, enriched by a major national survey of professionals and structures in the sector (notably employer groups and multi-employee), highlights the major trends of the moment:
- A real choice of life: 96% of respondents want to continue this way. What seduces them? The diversity of missions (29%) and daily autonomy (26%).
- Everywhere and for everyone: this way of working is now being deployed across the four corners of France and affects all sectors of activity.
- The experience at hand: the majority of profiles remain experienced professionals (87% are 40 years and over) who are committed to the long term (a quarter of them have been in practice for more than 5 years).
- Business favorites: recruiters love this formula for the flexibility it offers (27%) and the in-depth expertise these professionals bring (26%).
- New established habits: More and more non-executive profiles (technicians, qualified employees) are taking the plunge. In addition, managing to accumulate several part-time jobs to replenish full-time work has become a lasting reality in our economy.
The part-time work system
To get started, the professional signs an employment contract with an employer group (GE) or a specialized company. No worries about safety: this contract is firmly regulated by the Labor Code.
The principle of the Employers’ Group (GE) is clever: several companies come together (via an association or cooperative) to hire together. The employee works part-time for each of them, but works full time across the group. In terms of paperwork, it’s ultra-simple for the company: each month, it just pays an invoice to the group to cover the service and administrative management.
Time-sharing companies
If a company is not part of a group, it can go through a time-sharing company (sometimes backed by a temp agency) to recruit these profiles. To protect employees, the law requires these structures to have a mandatory financial guarantee. It is the assurance that salaries and expenses will always be paid, whatever happens.
Just like temporary employment, the system is based on a tripartite relationship: the time-sharing company, its client company, and the employee.
The employment contract between the time-sharing company and the employee
This contract, governed by the Labor Code, is in principle a permanent contract. It therefore includes a classic trial period. To put an end to it, the timeshare structure must follow the legal dismissal procedure. Small specificity: if the employee must work outside mainland France, the employer undertakes to manage and finance their repatriation.
In terms of portfolio and rights, the employee is in the same boat as the others: he benefits from remuneration and benefits identical to any employee of the user company occupying a similar position. He thus has access to the benefits of the CSE (which replaces the old works council), such as restaurant vouchers (or the company restaurant) and social, cultural or holiday activities.
The contract binding the user company to the group of employers
Between the company which welcomes the employee and the original structure, a commercial provision contract is signed. This document lists everything clearly: the missions, duration, hours, required qualifications and salary. Obviously, the host company undertakes to respect the law and guarantee the employee excellent working conditions, hygiene and safety.
Benefits for employers
It’s a real breath of fresh air for SMEs. Often, they are in dire need of advanced skills, but have neither the budget nor the structure to hire a full-time manager. Thanks to time sharing, they offer themselves high-level expertise – even in strategic positions such as a Financial Director (CFO), a Human Resources Director (HRD) or an Information Systems Director (ISD) – only for the volume of hours they need.
Benefits for employees
For the employee, it’s the perfect combo: the security of a full-time job and the wealth of variety. Working in several companies allows you to break the routine and boost your skills. In addition, employees benefit from great autonomy and real job stability:
- if one of the employers is going through a bad patch,
- the employee does not lose all of his content at once,
- which makes his daily life safer.
