Myths, Mindsets and Modern Work

Ilea Stoltenberg

Based on a conversation I had with a leader last week who is part of a leadership development program I am facilitating, we were talking about accountability and delivering results and I referenced someone in my world who is working part-time. This leader responded with, “Well, if they work part-time, they can’t complain about being busy.” This leader didn’t know that I am also a part-time employee and it got me thinking about some of the myths that we have around part-time work.

The latest 2025 data and research challenge some of the most common myths:

Myth 1: Part-time employees aren’t ambitious or won’t progress.

Insight: Surveys show many part-time employees are deeply career-oriented. When organisations invest in learning and development, part-timers demonstrate strong career adaptability and advancement potential. (Timewise, 2025)

Myth 2: Part-time roles are inherently low quality or less productive.

Insight: Productivity is not a function of hours worked but of job design and role clarity. Well-structured part-time roles retain key skills and can deliver exceptional results. (Emerald, 2025)

Myth 3: Part-time work is disappearing.

Insight: Labour market data show part-time work remains a critical and growing segment of the global workforce, especially in hybrid and flexible models. (World Economic Forum, 2025)

When leaders hold onto outdated myths, they risk under-utilising talent and limiting inclusion. By reframing part-time work as a strategic workforce lever, leaders can build more resilient, engaged, and diverse teams.

Stay Connected

More Updates

Ontalent Connecting People & Purpose

SignUp To Our Talent Insights!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
What are you looking for?
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.