Whether it’s a voluntary choice or a necessity, part-time work always leads to a reduction in salary, and therefore in disposable income. In times of crisis and rising living costs, this situation can quickly become precarious, prompting those affected to look for a comprehensive solution, across the board.
PART-TIME WORK: HOW TO EARN EXTRA INCOME?
Taking advantage of possible government support, seeking additional income, considering a career change, knowing your entitlements while keeping your main job: the answer can be found based on each person’s situation!
There are several reasons why an employee might work part-time. It’s often linked to the need to adjust their schedule to dedicate time to personal matters (raising a child or children, maintaining or renovating the home, managing a separation or a move, caring for elderly parents, etc.). For some, it’s also about adapting their week to their personal passions (classes, hobbies, creative activities, volunteering, supporting associations, etc.).
Part-time work can also be a temporary solution when returning to work (after parental leave, for example) or in the face of health issues (therapeutic part-time, long-term sick leave, etc.).
Sometimes, this professional situation is simply the result of job market pressures! Even if they weren’t looking for part-time work, the worker just couldn’t find a permanent contract that matched their skills, desired weekly hours, and salary. This scenario is common when returning to work or after a career break.
It’s often difficult to sign an advantageous employment contract after a period of unemployment, a career change, or after having a child, etc. So, in all these cases, how can you secure a bonus, an allowance, or compensation to supplement clearly insufficient income? How do Pôle Emploi or the CAF calculate your entitlements, and what amount of extra income can you expect?
And how can you top up your salary when you can’t (re)find your dream job, don’t receive enough support, or aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits from Pôle Emploi? Elora has answers to many of these questions.
This article aims to help you understand who can benefit from targeted support, tailored to each situation, or find a side activity that matches their skills.
PART-TIME WORK: WHAT BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES ARE AVAILABLE?
It’s important to know that your job, combined with your personal situation and salary, has a significant impact on the type, amount, and duration of the support you’re entitled to.
For example, in the case of therapeutic part-time work or leave after the birth of a child, social security (CAF, health insurance, etc.) is responsible for compensating your loss of income, at least partially. It’s your right! The health insurance fund calculates your daily compensation based on your last three payslips.
Another scenario for people who are working but have low income: under certain conditions, the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) can grant a work bonus to workers whose salary is too low for their personal and/or family situation. They may be eligible for the work bonus, subject to income conditions, if they have a professional activity (employed or self-employed) or if they receive partial or technical unemployment benefits, and their resources are modest.
PART-TIME WORK: CAN YOU RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?
Working part-time does not prevent you from being eligible for unemployment benefits from Pôle Emploi. An employee with a French employment contract (permanent or fixed-term) is entitled to partial unemployment, whether full-time or part-time.
Additionally, in the case of partial activity, employees who have lost income due to reduced working hours are compensated by their employer. In return, the employer receives a partial activity allowance co-financed by the State and Unédic.
And have you heard of the return-to-work allowance (ARE)? This is a replacement income paid by Pôle Emploi, under certain conditions, to someone who was previously employed, is registered as a job seeker, and has involuntarily lost their job. Pôle Emploi can, under certain conditions, provide financial support (ARE) for a set period, as a supplement to your income.
This return-to-work allowance (ARE) can be paid even if you work part-time. But in this case, you must be in one of these three situations:
- Occasional or reduced paid employment
- Occasional or reduced self-employment
- Micro-entrepreneur or self-employed status.
What is the return-to-work allowance (ARE)? It’s a little-known solution to involuntary job loss, whether you’re a public servant or work in the private sector. Private sector employees must be in one of the following situations to qualify:
- Unemployment due to dismissal (personal or economic reasons)
- or a mutually agreed contract termination (for permanent contracts)
- Non-renewal of a fixed-term contract
- Job loss due to a resignation considered legitimate (for example, to follow your partner and children)
Good to know! The return-to-work allowance (ARE) also applies to the end of a secure voluntary mobility, except in cases where the company reintegrates the employee (or if the employee refuses reintegration).
DIRECT SALES: AN ACTIVITY THAT FITS EASILY WITH PART-TIME WORK
To earn significant extra income over the long term, it’s wise to do your research and consider a side activity proactively, rather than waiting until your Pôle Emploi unemployment benefits run out!
Avoid side jobs that are minor and poorly paid, like tutoring, babysitting, or delivering newspapers at home! These types of services, which generate little income, are really only suitable for students outside class hours or retirees looking for a very part-time activity that doesn’t require specialized skills.
On the other hand, by working as an independent direct sales consultant (VDI), you can quickly:
- If you’re unemployed (fully or partially), earn extra income that’s higher than the unemployment benefits you might have received
- Thanks to this additional income from sales, reach a more attractive overall income. All you need to do is declare your extra income to URSSAF. Simulations and any formalities can be done online, simply and accessibly
- If you work part-time, the same applies!
The direct sales sector is particularly well-suited to a side activity that generates income alongside a part-time job. You’ll have independent status. This is the micro-enterprise status, also known as micro-entrepreneur or self-employed (the name under which it was created in France in 2009).
You have the right to manage your working hours, choose the company you want to work with, and of course, work from home if the activity allows. This autonomy in organization and the flexibility it offers are real advantages.
This new work can provide you with a significant salary supplement without compromising your job or disrupting your family life: your home, your relationship, your child or children’s routine... If you need to take a week off, there’s no need to fill out three copies of a leave request, since (for this new activity) you’re no longer an employee but an independent professional.
Before starting your business, it’s essential to check your rights and review your employment contract. If you’ve signed an exclusivity or non-compete clause with your employer, you’ll need to choose a different field for your side business! If your new activity is still close to your employer’s field, even if it doesn’t harm their business, it’s best to inform them in advance to avoid any future disputes.
BOOST YOUR INCOME OVER TIME WITH ELORA
Joining the team of Elora’s sales consultants, in the dynamic and growing world of fashion direct sales, means choosing a company that truly meets your needs—whether for extra income or for developing your skills!
Elora selects its sales consultants based on their personality, empathy, energy, and professional commitment. Even if you’re self-taught, you have every chance, especially since a training program is provided, stress-free and mostly from home.
Supportive and aware of the commitment involved in starting a new activity, the company makes sure to guide each personal stylist over time, offering various sales support tools. From the start, Elora provides, as a free loan, a starter kit to help you organize your first home sales events. This is a real advantage, as new recruits don’t have to self-finance or risk a large investment.
Elora also helps you increase your earnings in an inspiring way, offering sales challenges that can earn you trips, bonuses, gifts, and more.
What’s more, the Elora brand is prestigious and rewarding, as shown by numerous articles published online (France.tv, Canal+), as well as in renowned fashion magazines like Voici, Gala, or Marie-France.
