Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-102

§3402 Establishment of Part-time Career Employment Programs

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart B — Employment and Retention › CHAPTER 34 — PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES › § 3402

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Heads of each federal agency must create and run a program to offer part-time career jobs at all grade levels. The agency rules must say how to look at vacant jobs to see if they can become part-time, set the steps and rules to create or convert part-time positions (subject to the limits in section 3403), set yearly goals and interim and final deadlines to meet those goals, keep reviewing how the program is working, and use the agency’s normal resources to tell the public about vacant part-time jobs. Agencies must make sure the staff who handle the program talk to and coordinate with each other. The rules can include needed exceptions to meet the agency’s mission. The Office of Personnel Management must run a program to advise agencies when asked and to carry out research and demonstrations on part-time careers. That work must study using part-time workers in jobs not usually part-time (for example, supervisors, managers, and professionals), explore job-sharing options, and evaluate attitudes, benefits, costs, efficiency, productivity, and social effects.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §3402

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In order to promote part-time career employment opportunities in all grade levels, the head of each agency, by regulation, shall establish and maintain a program for part-time career employment within such agency. Such regulations shall provide for—
(A)the review of positions which, after such positions become vacant, may be filled on a part-time career employment basis (including the establishment of criteria to be used in identifying such positions);
(B)procedures and criteria to be used in connection with establishing or converting positions for part-time career employment, subject to the limitations of section 3403 of this title;
(C)annual goals for establishing or converting positions for part-time career employment, and a timetable setting forth interim and final deadlines for achieving such goals;
(D)a continuing review and evaluation of the part-time career employment program established under such regulations; and
(E)procedures for notifying the public of vacant part-time positions in such agency, utilizing facilities and funds otherwise available to such agency for the dissemination of information.
(2)The head of each agency shall provide for communication between, and coordination of the activities of, the individuals within such agency whose responsibilities relate to the part-time career employment program established within that agency.
(3)Regulations established under paragraph (1) of this subsection may provide for such exceptions as may be necessary to carry out the mission of the agency.
(b)(1)The Office of Personnel Management, by regulation, shall establish and maintain a program under which it shall, on the request of an agency, advise and assist such agency in the establishment and maintenance of its part-time career employment program under this chapter.
(2)The Office shall conduct a research and demonstration program with respect to part-time career employment within the Federal Government. In particular, such program shall be directed to—
(A)determining the extent to which part-time career employment may be used in filling positions which have not traditionally been open for such employment on any extensive basis, such as supervisory, managerial, and professional positions;
(B)determining the extent to which job-sharing arrangements may be established for various occupations and positions; and
(C)evaluating attitudes, benefits, costs, efficiency, and productivity associated with part-time career employment, as well as its various sociological effects as a mode of employment.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1978—Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(c)(1)(B), renumbered section 3392 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(c)(2)(B)(i), substituted “3403” for “3393”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(c)(2)(B)(ii), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” and “chapter” for “subchapter”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(c)(2)(B)(iii), substituted “Office” for “Commission”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 3402

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102