Part-time and flexible schedule contracts are becoming increasingly popular in the modern business environment. Such a contract entails working less than 40 hours per week or allows the employee to freely distribute their working hours. The Labor Code of Georgia strictly protects the rights of part-time employees, prohibiting discrimination against them compared to full-time staff. This means they are entitled to proportional leave, sick pay, and other social guarantees. For the employer, the main challenge is creating a correct system for recording working time and calculating adequate remuneration (hourly or fixed).
Flexible schedules are particularly relevant for students, parents of young children, and freelancers. However, "flexibility" should not be confused with chaos; the contract must precisely define when working time begins and ends to avoid disputes over overtime. An incorrectly drafted contract can lead to the employer having to pay for overtime hours where it was not intended. Lawyers registered on Legal.ge will help you draft a contract that adds maximum flexibility to your business within the framework of the law.
What does the Part-Time & Flexible Contracts service cover?
- Defining Working Time Model: Selecting and outlining fixed part-time (e.g., 4 hours a day) or flexible schedules (20 hours a week with free distribution).
- Developing Remuneration System: Establishing terms for hourly pay or piece-rate pay, considering minimum wage requirements (if applicable).
- Regulating Overtime: Setting the threshold beyond which work is considered overtime under part-time conditions.
- Remote Work Elements: Integrating hybrid models (office/home) into the flexible contract.
- Leave Calculation: Writing rules for calculating leave days and pay for part-time employees.
- Preventing Discrimination: Checking the contract to ensure part-time employees are not disadvantaged compared to full-time staff.
Common scenarios requiring this service
A typical scenario involves a restaurant hiring students as waiters in shifts according to their lecture schedules. Here, hourly recording and agreeing on a flexible schedule are essential. Another scenario is an IT company allowing a developer to work at any time of the day, as long as the task is completed. A third case involves a young parent requesting reduced hours due to childcare; the employer must sign an additional agreement on the change of rate.
Georgian Legal Framework
Part-time work is regulated by Articles 16 and 20 of the Labor Code of Georgia. The law defines part-time work as working time that is less than full-time (40 hours). The Code explicitly prohibits treating part-time employees differently solely because they work less. Also, the employer is obliged to keep a working time log, which requires special attention during flexible schedules.
Step-by-step service process
The lawyer first studies the company's workflow: when is the peak load and what is the real need? Then, a draft contract is prepared detailing the schedule (e.g., "floating" schedule). Special attention is paid to remuneration - how is the salary paid if the number of hours changes monthly? Finally, the document is agreed upon with the employee and signed.
Why choose a specialist on Legal.ge?
Flexible contracts require a creative yet legal approach. On Legal.ge, you will find lawyers who understand modern HR trends and can create a document that protects your interests while increasing employee satisfaction.
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