Culture
9 Year Anniversary: Deborah Wilson and Deborah Saunders
Nine years. Two Debs. One shared starting point that sparked very different but equally impactful journeys. From OnTalent’s early days
January 30, 2026
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:
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)
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)
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When leaders hold onto outdated myths, they risk under-utilising talent and limiting inclusion.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.
Nine years. Two Debs. One shared starting point that sparked very different but equally impactful journeys. From OnTalent’s early days
Q&A with IPAA Emerging Leaders: Bhavik Kapadia, Regan Vella, Zoe Keath, Brooke Wanstall, Alex Parker, Juan Vega OnTalent was proud
What are the early signs that your business is starting to run you, rather than the other way around? The
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