NCJ Number
212154
Date Published
July 2005
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Two research studies of part-time jobs in Victoria Police (Australia) focus on the challenges and barriers to recruiting and retaining women for these jobs.
Abstract
The first study, the Part-time Employment Review, was conducted in 2003-2004 as an internal review of part-time work in both sworn and unsworn positions and the part-time work policy in Victoria Police. The primary purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which part-time work contributed to the flexible work practices given priority under the Victoria Police strategic plan. The second study, which is currently underway, builds on the findings of the first study in identifying and evaluating the current constraints on and options for quality part-time work in Victoria Police, as well as developing a framework for the implementation and evaluation of quality part-time work in policing. The findings of these studies show that since the introduction of the formal part-time employment policy in Victoria Police in 1996, part-time employment has grown steadily from approximately 100 employees, both sworn and unsworn, to 563 in June 2003. Part-time employment mainly involves unsworn positions, and women compose 87 percent of part-time employees. All part-time work is at the sergeant classification or below. The absence of part-time work in higher job classifications is apparently due to cultural and institutional barriers associated with part-time work within Victoria Police. The assumption that positions above sergeant are not amenable to part-time work, coupled with a prevailing attitude that part-time work is primarily for women with children, limits the appeal of part-time jobs. This, in turn, negatively impacts recruitment for and retention in part-time positions. For part-time and full-time employment to be fully integrated, part-time employment must span all ranks. 1 table, 9 notes, and 30 references