Part Time Employment Agreements
Part Time Employment Agreements brings together part-time employment contracts for a range of working patterns, from straightforward part-time roles through to more structured arrangements such as job-share, term-time and annualised hours.
Updated part-time employment contracts
These part-time employment contracts have been drafted and kept up to date by employment solicitors and HR professionals. The contracts have been updated to reflect the statutory sick pay changes set by the Employment Rights Act, under which SSP is now payable from the first full day of sickness absence.
Use these contracts when the working pattern is genuinely part-time
These templates are intended for roles where the individual works fewer hours than a comparable full-time employee, but the arrangement is still an employment relationship. The collection includes both general-purpose contracts and contracts tailored to specific patterns of work.
For a straightforward part-time role, start with the Part-time Employment Contract. For a part-time office or administrative role, the Office Worker /Administrator Employment Contract (Part-time) provides a more role-specific option.
Part-time offer letters and matching contract terms
It is common practice to issue an employment offer letter together with the contract of employment, so the offer, working pattern and contractual terms are consistent from the outset. The matching Part-time Employment Offer Letters help employers confirm the offer before or alongside the relevant part-time contract.
Contracts for specific part-time working patterns
Some arrangements need a more tailored contract because the working pattern affects how the employment relationship operates. The Job Share Employment Contract is suitable where two employees share the duties and hours of one role, while the Fixed Term (Part-time) Employment Contract is for part-time employment arranged for a defined period.
The collection also includes term-time and annualised hours contracts where the working pattern is structured around those arrangements, together with flexi-time wording for clerical and administrative staff where hours are managed through a flexi-time system.
Part-time contracts with restrictive covenants
A Part-time Employment Contract with Restrictive Covenants is included where you need an enhanced level of post-termination restriction. It is most applicable to part-time junior roles.
Zero hours and casual work options
This collection also includes templates for casual work and zero hours working, plus a comparison document to help distinguish between those approaches and choose the right contract for the engagement. These contracts are currently being updated in accordance with the Employment Rights Act.
Part Time Employment Agreements is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which part-time contract template should I use for a straightforward part-time role? +
Start with the Part-time Employment Contract for any role where the employee works fixed, agreed hours and days that are simply fewer than a comparable full-time role. If the role is office-based or administrative, the Office Worker/Administrator Employment Contract (Part-time) provides a more role-specific alternative. Both templates cover the written statement of employment particulars required under section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and must be provided to the employee on or before their first day.
I am taking on two employees to share one full-time role. Do I need a different contract from a standard part-time agreement? +
Not necessarily. There is no statutory rule requiring a separate job-share contract. Job sharing is simply a form of part-time or flexible working, so each sharer just needs the written statement of employment particulars that a standard part-time contract provides. Provided that the headship is not left vacant for part of the week, this requirement can be met by 2 part-time contracts brought together to create a job share arrangement. That said, a dedicated job-share contract is good practice. The Job Share Employment Contract in this collection includes a specific clause addressing what happens if one job-share partner leaves or is transferred, which a standard part-time contract does not cover. Guidance Notes accompany the job-share contract to help you understand how to apply it. You should discuss the partner-departure clause with both employees before they sign.
My new part-time employee only works during school terms. Which contract covers that arrangement? +
Use the Term-time Employment Contract from this collection. Term-time working is a specific pattern where the employee works only during school term periods and does not work (or receives reduced pay) during school holidays. A standard part-time contract does not adequately reflect that arrangement because the working pattern affects how holiday entitlement and pay are calculated. The term-time contract addresses those differences within the employment relationship.
Do these part-time contracts reflect the new SSP rules that came into force in April 2026? +
Yes, with one important point on the rate. From 6 April 2026 the Employment Rights Act 2025 changed how statutory sick pay works: SSP is now payable from the first day of qualifying sickness absence, removing the previous three waiting days, and the lower earnings limit has been abolished so all eligible employees qualify regardless of what they earn. SSP is now paid at the lower of 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings or the flat weekly rate of £123.25 (2026/27), so lower-paid and part-time staff may receive a percentage of their earnings rather than the full flat rate, and the other qualifying conditions still apply (for example the worker must be an employed earner, and those who pay their own tax through self-assessment remain excluded). The part-time contracts in this collection have been updated to reflect those changes. If you are using an older version of a Simply-Docs part-time contract, download the current version to ensure your sick-pay wording is accurate.
My part-time employee has access to confidential client information. Should I use a different contract from the standard part-time agreement? +
Use the Part-time Employment Contract with Restrictive Covenants if you need enforceable post-termination restrictions, such as preventing the employee from approaching clients or joining a competitor after they leave. Restrictive covenants must be no wider than is reasonably necessary to protect a legitimate business interest, otherwise a court may refuse to enforce them. This variant is most applicable to part-time junior roles. For more senior or specialist roles, consider whether a manager or full-time contract with tailored restrictions would be more appropriate.
I want to issue an offer letter and a contract together before my new part-time employee starts. Is there a matching offer letter I can use? +
Yes. The Part-time Offer Letters collection provides offer letters designed to be issued alongside the part-time employment contracts in this folder. Issuing an offer letter together with the contract from the outset keeps the offer, working pattern and contractual terms consistent. The offer letter confirms the role before or at the point the employee signs, which helps avoid any later dispute about what was agreed.
My new part-time hire works irregular hours and I am not sure whether I need a part-time contract or a zero hours contract. How do I choose? +
Match the contract to how the engagement actually works in practice, because choosing wrong can affect the employee's statutory rights and your legal obligations. Use a part-time employment contract where hours and working days are agreed and fixed, even if fewer than a comparable full-time role. Where the individual works flexibly with no guaranteed hours, a zero hours or casual worker contract is more appropriate. This collection includes both types of template and a comparison document to help you distinguish between the arrangements.
