There are a lot of folks working part time. Some do it as a preference or due to scheduling while for others, that’s all they can get. This is an article about it. Gigs are more common in some fields than others, but I have done “gigs” as a law clerk for a settlement judge, special ed hearings officer, even as a part time judge! Have also done it and hired others to work in a nonprofit as “gigs.” I know insurers who hire MDs as temps on “gigs,” to avoid having to provide benefits. Oh yea, I never got benefits with the gigs except when I was a law clerk, because for that 6 week gig, I worked > 40 hours/week.
I have been a “gig” worker for over 25 years (before it was cool B-) ). I do find that rates are pushing downward, and also that different parts of the country have different patterns for how/when they employ gig workers.
I know someone who hired some folks as “gig workers” to try them out. After six months, they were either hired or “contract was not renewed.”.
Yes, I have been doing gigs off and on for about 2 decades. The flexability is nice while the lack of benefits and inconsistent cash flow is problematic. It would be MUCH tougher if it was the family’s primary income and benefit source.
If one parent works full time, and the other is taking care of the offspring and doing gigs, it could be a win win situation. The gig parent gets to keep the skills up to date and be busy while little Jenny and Benny are at school. That, of course, works if the gigs have flex schedules.
Yes, you have to have a desirable skill set and be flexible to keep having good gigs. I have enjoyed my gigs am very glad we have H’s benefits and steady income to keep our household humming.
People can have the part time jobs and gigs to keep skills while they have other time commitments and have an easier transition back to full time when their schedules permit and an opening is available.
When both people in the household have gigs because that’s all they can get, it’s much more problematic, especially when neither has any employment benefits.
I’m kind of the “gig” parent. I work in healthcare and part-time positions as well as per-diem positions are plentiful. Once D was born I never worked more than 20-30 hrs per week. We had onsite childcare at my hospital so it was perfect.
Whenever I needed any type of schedule change I literally walked across the street to HR and made the change. Want to work one shift a week in the ER? Sure! Want to work three shifts a week in ICU? Sure! Seriously…it was that flexible. I had the skill set of course but still it was amazingly flexible, especially with a small child.
I’m an NP now and it is a little less flexible because most jobs are standard 8-5 in a family practice office. But even then there are offices who only need an NP part-time. For about five years I worked 2 days one week and 3 the next. The other NP and I job shared and it was ideal.
This was a great arrangement for a number of years, but as pointed out above…none of these part-time jobs had benefits. No benefits became a problem when D was laid off from his engineering position. I eventually landed a part-time salaried role doing home visits as an NP. I make my own schedule so with a busy high schooler it is still ideal. As long as I am available for 24 hrs per week they don’t care how I do it.
All of my colleagues in healthcare have enjoyed the same flexibility. PT/OT/ST and RN/NP are all great careers with ample side gig opportunity. D wants to do engineering which we have always seen in our house as a very traditional 9-5 job with minimal side gig opportunity. I would be THRILLED if she changed to OT and she tosses it out there every now and then.
I’m retired but have picked up some long term leave positions. So I guess that makes me a gig worker.
It’s terrific. The things I like:
- If I really don't want to work, I can say no.
- I can negotiate the terms of my employment including hours worked, and pay...and the duration of time I am available.
- It's temporary...so even if it turns out not to be my cup of tea...there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m in a good situation because my profession is an area of shortage…so it’s hard to find folks for leave positions.
Seems like just a new name for contracting and consulting.
And the BEST part about gig working?
You really aren’t around enough to get involved in departmental drama and politics!
I once had a gig job where my goal was to figure out the sources of such drama, but I was an outside observer.
Another perk: no pesky “performance goals” and their reviews. 
I work a sort of permanent gig. I write and edit HR materials for a large HR consulting firm’s clients. I’m their “overflow,” so sometimes I’m busy and sometimes I’m not. I love the work, so I really don’t find it a burden at all to be busy, or even to work on the weekend. (One of the advantages of being an empty-nester.) And, the best part is, I get to work from home. So yes, no office drama. I love it. I had originally thought I’d stop doing this when I turn 70 (only two and a half more years!!) but I’m enjoying it so much that I’m reserving judgment.
Another perk for me…NO MEETINGS. They don’t want temporary help at their meetings. Fine with me!!
I have a full-time job (with benefits) that grew out of a part-time (but not gig) job without benefits. I also do freelance work. I’m proud to be a reverse outsourcer: I do projects for a publishing company in India.
thumpert…you do not want to go to a meeting in which the topic is planning the next meeting about having more meetings??
I didn’t mind going to meetings. What I hated was meetings where the information could just have easily been conveyed via email.
When I was younger, the only people who got “gigs” were band members.
I love gig work! I’m on my 4th month. Sure, I miss the insurance, but I’m so much happier. My pay is quite acceptable. I love not having a boss…love it! The only downside is not knowing how long it will last, because I like it where I am…but I wouldn’t ever want to be a permanent employee again.
I have no desire to continue in my profession of 41 years. If I ever work again, it’ll be as a greeter at WalMart or some such.
there is always temp agencies like kelly services or ranstad (and 1000x of others) you can take temp jobs as needed and turn down the ones you would not want to do.(if you turn down to many the will just stop calling you)