osaaikaisista

Osaaikaisista is a Finnish term used to refer to part-time workers. The form osaaikaisista is the genitive plural of osaaikainen, and is used in sentences such as “osaaikaisista työntekijöistä.” The concept denotes employees whose weekly working time is shorter than the workplace’s standard full-time hours. The exact threshold varies by contract, collective agreement, or sector, but in Finland the typical full-time workload is around 37.5 hours per week.

Part-time work can be permanent, temporary, or seasonal, and may include arrangements such as job sharing or flexible scheduling. Part-time employees have the same legal rights as full-time workers on a pro rata basis; pay, holidays, and social benefits are generally provided in proportion to hours worked. In practice, this means osaaikaiset accrue annual leave and access social security in line with their workload.

Common sectors for osaaikaiset employment include retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, and other service industries, where demand fluctuates and flexible staffing is valuable. They are also common among students, parents, and individuals seeking supplementary income or work-life balance.

Challenges associated with osaaikaiset work can include lower earnings, fewer opportunities for advancement, and schedule instability. Some workers aim to transition to full-time status, and many collective agreements include provisions that facilitate gradual hour increases or opportunities for converting to full-time positions.

See also: osaaikatyö, täysiaikatyö, työaikalaki, työehtosopimus.