Benefits of Full-Time Employment: Why It’s Worth Committing

Is full-time employment really all it’s cracked up to be? That’s the question we’re here to answer today.

Maybe…

• You’re looking for your first ever full-time job
• You’re coming back to work after a break and are interested in full-time work
• You’re a part-time employee looking to increase the number of hours you work
• You’re attempting a career change and full-time work is part of the deal
• You’re an independent professional considering becoming a full-time worker

Whatever the motivation may be behind your curiosity—it’s valid. Full-time work has often been hailed as the Holy Grail of employment. But, if it’s new or unfamiliar territory, you may find yourself wondering if you’re making the right decision? Is that full-time title really worth the commitment?

To help you make an informed decision, we’re going to discuss the benefits of full-time employment, including:

• Job stability and security
• Financial benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Greater career satisfaction
• Legal and workplace protections

Job stability and security

Full-time employees usually work a set number of hours, for which you get paid a fixed salary. This stability and consistency in work schedule and income are among the biggest draws of full-time work.

You don’t have to worry if you’ll be rostered on for enough work hours. You also get paid the same amount each pay cycle, so you can budget better and plan your expenses. This certainty can go a long way toward alleviating the work-related stress that can sometimes come with part-time jobs or freelance work.

Additionally, full-time workers often have access to better career advancement opportunities. When an employer invests in a full-time worker, they’re more likely to promote them or offer them opportunities for career growth over a part-time or external worker.

Financial benefits

A full-time job usually comes with a number of employee benefits—many of which are financial. Business owners and management teams will attract high-quality workers to their company with a good benefits package, which can often include fringe benefits as well. Fringe benefits may include “extras” on top of your salary, such as health insurance, childcare reimbursement, life insurance, student loan repayment, flexible schedules, paid vacation time, use of a company vehicle, and more.

Competitive salary

Full-time employees not only receive a steady income each pay cycle; they often receive salaries that are much higher than part-time workers. This financial security is one of the biggest drawing cards of full-time work. Additionally, when you work full time, you also have opportunities to earn bonuses and pay increases. This is a benefit not always afforded to part-time employees or freelance professionals.

Health and retirement benefits

As discussed above, full-time workers receive a number of employee benefits, including but not limited to employer-provided health insurance and dental insurance. Insurance is a prized health care privilege that attracts many professionals to full-time jobs.

Many employees invest in 401(k) retirement plans to prepare for the future. Employers will usually contribute a certain percentage to this as well. This often helps full-time workers get ahead with retirement plans much better than freelancers, for example. Freelancer workers and other self-employed individuals pay the combined employer and employee amounts of Social Security and Medicare (in the U.S.) while full-time workers pay only the employee amounts.

Paid time off and leave

Everybody needs a day off sometimes. When you’re employed full time, you’re usually entitled to paid time off (PTO) including vacation time, sick leave, and days off for public holidays. Depending on the company, leave policies may also include parental, family, and other personal leave allowances.

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Professional development opportunities

The benefits don’t end with retirement plans and paid vacation time. Full-time employment perks can also include other non-financial benefits that are great for your career.

Skill development and training

Employers want (and need) workers who are the best at what they do. To help with this, many employers will invest in your career by helping you further your skills and training; this is far more prevalent for full-time than for part-time employees. For workers, access to continuing education and job-related training and workshops can be crucial for staying current and competitive as a professional. Depending on the company and your eligibility, you may also be able to access employer-sponsored education and certification programs outside of your workplace.

This skills development at the cost of the employer is a win-win for full-time employees as it helps you grow as a professional while also getting better at your job. Some employers also offer higher education tuition reimbursement to their full-time staff—a benefit rarely offered to part-time employees.

Networking and collaboration

Full-time employment doesn’t happen in a silo. You work alongside others and develop close working relationships with your colleagues and other industry professionals. All these people become part of your professional network—which will grow as your career grows. You also get to expand your network by attending conferences and professional events.

While networking might seem like a “silly” perk—it’s actually very valuable. Your professional network will be very valuable to you should you ever want to look for a new job, find a collaborator for a new project, or pursue any other professional advancement opportunity.

Greater career satisfaction

The freelance life has a number of fantastic benefits but one thing many independent professionals struggle with is work-life balance. Sometimes the boundaries get blurry, and they find themselves working very long hours—often leading to burnout if they’re not careful.

On the other hand, full-time employees have a fixed workweek with set hours. This helps establish a boundary that often helps workers achieve a much healthier  work-life balance. A balanced worker is a happier, more satisfied worker.

Plus, full-time workers also often feel a great sense of accomplishment through their work. When you work on a project long term, there’s more of a possibility of seeing a long-term vision fulfilled. This is rarely the case for those who work on projects freelance or only for the short term. Additionally, if you work for a business or a cause you’re passionate about, this can be especially helpful in upping the levels of career satisfaction.

Legal and workplace protections

Finally, full-time workers have a humber of rights and legal recourse—should they need it. This is a privilege full-time workers often take for granted but it’s an important one. State and federal laws govern various aspects of employment, including but not limited to employment contracts, leave policies, protections against unfair dismissal or discrimination, and more.

For more information, check out:

• Worker rights
• Federal labor laws

Find full-time work on Upwork

A full-time job is a commitment. A great one. When you say yes to full-time employment, you’re making a commitment to your career. You’re committing to career advancement and lots of fantastic opportunities ahead of you.

Full-time work doesn’t have to mean boring and it certainly doesn’t have to mean being chained to a desk or being compelled to go to an office every day. You can find plenty of great full-time positions that allow you to do work you enjoy, on a flexible schedule.

Ready to find a new job? On Upwork, you can build relationships with clients who can grow and change with you—from short-term to long-term, and project to full-time opportunities. Find full-time work today.