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If they are not explicit and not explaining this even to the 1st recruiting filter... it means the only way it happens is if you get in the company, do 8 hours for a while, prove your worth, then switch to 4-6 hours. It's a silly dance and takes time.

I did see it once, and even then they just wink-wink approved 6 hours with a reduced pay but legally you were on the hook for 8 hours (at the reduced rate). Flexibility varies...

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The element that I've never been sure about that is benefits though. If you are taking 50% time do you get benefits at all, or 50% benefits, or what?

tbh in that context, the wink-nudge "you're 40 hours a week and we have a mandatory no-meetings friday, be sure you don't go do something fun because it'd be a real shame if you missed something important!" is actually potentially a better deal from the employee perspective because it's legally clear that you're a FTE.

You are right, it is a better deal in a way, but it's also a bit iffy. There's no reason one couldn't get the same benefits as a full-time employee while working lower hours. In the end it's all about total compensation and you can adjust pay for that to make sense.

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