Full-Time Employee

A full-time employee is an employee who works the number of hours an employer or applicable law defines as full time. The definition can vary depending on the policy, benefit, or legal requirement involved.

There is no single full-time definition that applies in every HR situation. An employer may use one standard for internal scheduling or benefits, while a law or benefit program may use another. Employers should define full-time status clearly in their policies and apply the correct definition for the specific requirement they are evaluating.