how to request to go from full-time to part-time (+ sample letter)

We are living in the digital age, and the nature of work is changing, necessitating that employees know how to request to go from full-time to part-time.

With the changing nature of work, the introduction of the cloud, and AI, more employees can now find work-from-home IT jobs and opportunities no one could have predicted before the pandemic.

This article discusses what that request means to an IT professional and the best way to go about it. Let’s dive in.

The short answer is yes. You can switch from full-time to part-time work if you have a valid reason (such as relocating while working remotely, taking care of dependents, or health reasons) and mutually agree with your employer.

However, even though the benefits are numerous and open up the opportunity to grow in your career, there are challenges to making the switch. They include:

• Reduced income and benefits
• A change in work status and expectations
• A need to adjust and adapt to the new format of work

Before switching, consider the pros and cons and strategize how to transition.

While the opportunity to earn more immediately comes to mind, there are many reasons for going part-time. Let’s start by discussing the personal reasons for going part-time:

• Pursue further education or training. Working part-time can allow IT professionals to enhance their skills and qualifications by enrolling in a course, degree, bootcamp, or certification.
• Gain flexibility and autonomy. Part-time work allows IT professionals to control their time and workload and opens up time to pursue other opportunities and interests, such as freelancing, entrepreneurship, or consulting.
• Reduce stress and improve health. Working part-time allows you to make more time for your physical and mental health. It also gives you the opportunity to work remotely and travel, which can help reduce stress and burnout.
• Balance personal time and work. Working part-time in IT allows professionals to devote more time to their family and work-life balance, especially where young children, elderly parents, or other dependents are involved. With a part-time arrangement, it is much easier to achieve optimal work-life integration.

There’s also the changing nature of work, which gives IT professionals more reasons to switch to part-time:

• The availability of remote work options allows for working from another country, which can increase IT professionals’ autonomy and flexibility. Remote work also reduces the need to commute, saving time and money.
• The emergence of gig economy platforms makes it easy for IT professionals to connect with short-term or project-based tasks or services. With this format, IT professionals can control their income and schedule more work hours.
• The advancement of AI and automation technologies that can perform tasks faster without human intervention has changed the job market. In some cases, it augments or fully replaces the workers, depending on what they do and how advanced the automation technology is. An IT professional may want to work part-time to adjust to the demand and supply of full-time vs. part-time jobs.

We have discussed why an IT professional may want to shift from full-time to part-time. In this section, we’ll discuss how going from full-time to part-time benefits you:

1. Savings

   When they ask to work remotely part-time, IT professionals can reduce the cost of commuting or traveling and other work-related expenses, including clothing and food. With these savings, professionals can spend money on things that make their work more accessible and rewarding.

2. Tax breaks and subsidies

   Working part-time can lower your taxable income and make you eligible for certain tax credits and deductions, such as the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, and the child and dependent care credit. Working part-time can also make you eligible for subsidies or assistance programs like housing and health insurance.

3. Improved productivity and creativity

   IT professionals rely on productivity to finish projects and creativity to solve problems and develop new ideas. With part-time work, you can focus on learning new skills and technologies to explore ideas or solutions in a conducive environment free of distractions or interruptions. This is also a great way to work on passion projects that had to take a backseat when working full-time.

4. Expanded networking opportunities

   Working part-time means controlling your time and what kind of work you do. It allows you to comfortably expand your network and opportunities by freely meeting different people and entering new industries or organizations. This helps you build a reputation and a portfolio to showcase your skills and achievements across a wide range of tasks and industries.

Changing from full-time to part-time employment is a significant shift for you and your current employer. It is unlikely that everything will go smoothly all the way through. And now you are wondering, can your employer transfer you to another location because you requested this or as a condition of your request?

Well, things do not have to get that drastic because there is a way to approach this in a way that works for both of you.

Let’s talk about it:

1. Start by checking the company policy. Does it say anything about the request you are about to make, and if so, what recourse do you have? Checking the policy is a great way to prepare your case according to the stipulated procedure (where one is provided).
2. Prepare your case by highlighting how it will benefit you and the employer. Leverage your achievements, skills, and contributions as a full-time employee and explain how you plan to improve or maintain your performance and productivity while working part-time. Prepare for any potential concerns and challenges your employer may bring up in response to your request.
3. Review a sample proposal from people who have successfully gone through the process. This could be fellow employees or online sources. With the insight from those who have gone before you, you can model your proposal after something with a higher chance of working. It can also remind you to include all the relevant details that you may not immediately think of. You can also get feedback from someone you trust before presenting to ensure you have ironed out your argument.
4. Prepare yourself to address pain points. Your employer will likely have objections or reservations about your request, such as the impact on workload, project deadlines, or client communication. Be prepared to listen to their perspective and offer workable, realistic, and well-thought-out solutions to address the pain points. You may suggest a trial run, a backup plan, or a flexible schedule.
5. Do not surprise your employer with the request. It should not come out of the blue or as a shock to your employer. Instead, clearly communicate your intention and reasoning and schedule a meeting to discuss it in depth. This is a great way to build rapport and trust, showing respect for their authority and time.

These are just starter tips. Anything that can help your specific situation can be a part of your strategy to negotiate a transition to part-time.

And now, the sample!

To help you get started with your request letter, here is a sample you can use:

If you’re looking to get transferred to a new location or role, here are more transfer letter samples.

Good luck with your request and don’t forget to look up the benefits of remote-forever work at EPAM Anywhere. Who knows, it could be just what you’re looking for!