- There is no strict number of hours that an employee has to work in order to be considered a full-time employee. Employers are generally able to define what constitutes a full-time employee, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. According to a 2009 time-use survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time workers usually work more than 35 hours per week. It is employer-specific, however. For example, workers at the Everett Clinic, a health care firm based in the state of Washington, are full time employees if they work 30 to 40 hours per week in a regularly scheduled position.
- Overtime laws may provide a basis for full-time hours. Federal labor laws require employers to pay an employee overtime (equal to one and one-half times the worker's normal pay) if that worker puts in more than 40 hours a week. An employee who is regularly working 40 hours a week is generally considered a full-time employee.
- Full-time employees are typically eligible for certain benefits such as health insurance or vacation time. For example, full-time employees who are working at the Everett Clinic are entitled to medical and dental insurance, a profit-sharing retirement plan, paid time off and other perks. According to the North Carolina Department of Labor, while it is up to an employer to determine what constitutes full-time hours, if wages or wage benefits are involved, the employer must specifically state what it takes to be full-time (with regard to hours worked in a week, the duration of employment and other issues).
- Being a full-time employee may entitle you to certain benefits and rights. Because full-time hours vary by employer, you should speak to your company's wage and hours division to determine what you need to do to become a full-time employee.