Empower part-time careers with an open mindset and fair treatment: OTRS HR leaders

Employers can easily create a full and successful career even for those who work part-time—if they are willing to be open, to look at support rather than control, and to offer genuinely fair and equal treatment to all. The HR leaders of tech firm OTRS, who have successfully enabled part-time careers for their people over two decades, share their views

- Mint Kang

Part-time work is often thought of as a temporary arrangement, to be implemented when a full-time role cannot be justified and ended once the situation changes. But what if a company made it possible to build a full career by working part-time, and even to advance to leadership positions on a part-time basis?

People Matters spoke to Sabine Riedel from the Management Board of Germany-headquartered technology firm OTRS, who leads international HR strategy and is a strong advocate of flexible work structures, and OTRS's HR Director Kathrin Triebel, who works part-time herself, to understand how this solution works and whether it's possible for other companies to emulate it. OTRS has a policy of granting employees part-time work or other flexible arrangements on request, and while the HR leaders have not tracked the number of part-time employees, they estimate it to be significant and includes both men and women.

Start with an open mindset

The idea of having an open mindset and flexibility was part of OTRS's culture since its founding in 2000, according to Riedel. “We wanted to give people the chance to live the life they want professionally, and that means that you have to offer different kinds of working models,” she said. “It was never restricted in any way, and we don't only offer it for mothers—even fathers or younger employees who request part-time. So, we don't have a special model, it's more about the general flexibility.”