With unemployment the way it is, some people have no choice but to take part-time jobs, and some companies are moving away from the model of offering careers for life. But is working part-time such a bad thing? How about the flexibility it offers?

Times are changing, and we must change with the times. The press would make you feel that part-time work is bad, with the lack of job security and lack of commitment it brings from a company. But the trade-off with having part-time work is the flexibility of filling your time with other work, or participating in activities that make life more enjoyable.

If flexible work continues to be seen in a negative life, then workers may resist making their work part of a more mobile workforce. But flexible work is key to long-term job satisfaction, offering a level of variety and a chance to revitalize both personal and working lives.

As flexible work becomes more mainstream, HR professionals must ensure that part-time workers are treated just like permanent workers and not be left out of staff meetings, events, and activities offered by the organization.